Policy paper of the Committee on Ethics and Task Force on Migration and Mental Health: Migration and mental health of migrants, refugees, asylum seekers - Ethical dilemmas and concerns

TY - JOUR

T1 - Policy paper of the Committee on Ethics and Task Force on Migration and Mental Health

T2 - Migration and mental health of migrants, refugees, asylum seekers - Ethical dilemmas and concerns

AU - Schouler-Ocak, Meryam

AU - Bäärnhielm, Sofie

AU - Tarricone, Ilaria

AU - Adorjan, Kristina

AU - Samochowiec, Jerzy

AU - Chumakov, Egor

AU - Veizis, Apostolos

AU - Aker, Ahmet Tamer

AU - Galderisi, Silvana

AU - Tyano, Sam

AU - Pinto da Costa, Mariana

AU - Pollmächer, Thomas

AU - Madeira, Luís

AU - Chkonia, Eka

AU - Vahip, Simavi

AU - Bhugra, Dinesh

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), 2025.

PY - 2025/9/22

Y1 - 2025/9/22

N2 - Background International migration is a complex phenomenon of global and historical relevance. It includes voluntary, forced, and workforce migration, shaped by diverse determinants. Push factors comprise war, persecution, and political instability, while pull factors include stability, economic opportunities, education, and favorable living conditions. Forced migration is frequently associated with displacement and a disproportionate burden of mental health disorders, which are urgent yet difficult to address due to structural, cultural, and legal barriers. Methods Evidence demonstrates that restricted health care access exacerbates psychiatric disorders, while treatment delays contribute to poorer outcomes. Barriers include administrative limitations, linguistic and cultural differences, stigma, and resource shortages. This policy paper was developed by the Committee on Ethics and the Task Force on Migration and Mental Health of the European Psychiatric Association (EPA). Relevant literature was reviewed and combined with the professional expertise of committee members. The draft was subsequently evaluated by the Publication Committee and the EPA Board, and revised accordingly. Results Ethical principles in refugee care are insufficiently implemented in many European countries. Core principles of medical ethics - beneficence, respect for autonomy, non-maleficence, and justice - as well as the obligation to advance psychiatric standards and apply psychiatric expertise for societal benefit, are inconsistently upheld. Conclusions The primary duty of physicians is to promote health and well-being through competent, timely, and compassionate care. The EPA therefore advocates coordinated strategies to mitigate the mental health consequences of war, displacement, and trauma, and to secure equitable access to psychiatric services for migrants and refugees.

AB - Background International migration is a complex phenomenon of global and historical relevance. It includes voluntary, forced, and workforce migration, shaped by diverse determinants. Push factors comprise war, persecution, and political instability, while pull factors include stability, economic opportunities, education, and favorable living conditions. Forced migration is frequently associated with displacement and a disproportionate burden of mental health disorders, which are urgent yet difficult to address due to structural, cultural, and legal barriers. Methods Evidence demonstrates that restricted health care access exacerbates psychiatric disorders, while treatment delays contribute to poorer outcomes. Barriers include administrative limitations, linguistic and cultural differences, stigma, and resource shortages. This policy paper was developed by the Committee on Ethics and the Task Force on Migration and Mental Health of the European Psychiatric Association (EPA). Relevant literature was reviewed and combined with the professional expertise of committee members. The draft was subsequently evaluated by the Publication Committee and the EPA Board, and revised accordingly. Results Ethical principles in refugee care are insufficiently implemented in many European countries. Core principles of medical ethics - beneficence, respect for autonomy, non-maleficence, and justice - as well as the obligation to advance psychiatric standards and apply psychiatric expertise for societal benefit, are inconsistently upheld. Conclusions The primary duty of physicians is to promote health and well-being through competent, timely, and compassionate care. The EPA therefore advocates coordinated strategies to mitigate the mental health consequences of war, displacement, and trauma, and to secure equitable access to psychiatric services for migrants and refugees.

KW - ethical principles and dilemmas

KW - mental health

KW - migrants

KW - recommendations

KW - refugees

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105016802056

U2 - 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2025.10092

DO - 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2025.10092

M3 - Article

C2 - 40977351

AN - SCOPUS:105016802056

SN - 0924-9338

VL - 68

JO - European Psychiatry

JF - European Psychiatry

IS - 1

M1 - e153

ER -