Trauma and taboos: how Portugal takes care of migrants' mental health

A Growing Need for Mental Health Services in Portugal's Migrant Communities

Portugal's economy has transformed from a country of emigrants to one of immigrants since the late 1990s. The country has welcomed migrants from various countries, including Brazil, Cape Verde, Eastern Europe, Syria, Afghanistan, and the Indian subcontinent. The presence of these new groups has created a need for services to adapt, particularly in the field of mental health.

Many people are arriving in Portugal traumatised, either by the conflicts that forced them to flee their homes or by the dehumanising and often dangerous journey to safety. In Almeirim, a town 80km east of Lisbon, Cátia Sequeira runs a local centre for migrant support and integration called Claim. She often works with Syrian and Ukrainian refugees scarred by war.

The Claim centre has developed Cuidar+, a psychological and social support programme designed to help people regain a sense of direction. The programme includes a climate of trust and a close relationship with service users, which enables the centre to intervene when more sensitive situations arise.

Cultural Differences and Language Barriers

The healthcare system has also had to adapt to the arrival of large numbers of non-Portuguese speakers. The primary challenge is the language barrier, which is addressed through telephone interpreting services and intercultural mediators. The Portuguese Council for Refugees (CPR) provides another gateway to healthcare, designed for people applying for refugee status.

Upon arrival, asylum seekers are provided with accommodation and support throughout the initial phase of their asylum application. They are assessed within the first 48 hours, with a psycho-social assessment that takes into account their physical health, as well as an initial assessment of their mental health. This initial screening enables the most urgent cases to be identified quickly.

The What Health Project

The What Health project uses community diaspora events to reach out to migrants in need of help with their mental health. The project aims to gather information on the mental health and wellbeing of migrants, as part of a research project funded in part by the European Union. The team of researchers work with doctors to identify gaps in the system, before training them in an approach that takes cultural factors into account.

Practitioners will then reach out to migrant communities to raise awareness of mental health issues and explain the care pathways available. The project's goal is to improve the living conditions of migrants in Portugal by addressing their mental health needs.