title: [Social policy changes and the health of asylum seekers: 3 years after the introduction of the Asylum Law].
abstract: In the canton de Vaud, General Practioners (GPs) caring for asylum seekers under the "aide d'urgence" regime can ask for an adaptation of their housing conditions, by filling out a specific form and addressing it to the medical commission responsible for advising the EVAM (the housing institution for asylum seekers) on these issues. The forms addressed to the commission are indicative of a worrisome state of health in this population, especially for mental health. More than 70% report at least one psychiatric diagnosis. Most frequent are anxiety and depressive disorders, as well as many posttraumatic stress disorders, associated with traumatic events both in the country of origin and in Switzerland. Adapting the housing conditions, based on vulnerabilities that the GP has specifically documented, may contribute to improve the health of the most vulnerable asylum seekers.
authors.affiliation: Unité de psychiatrie de liaison, PMU, Lausanne. michael.saraga@chuv.ch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saraga
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clément
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moreno-Dàvila
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Keravec
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bodenmann
mesh_terms: D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008603:Mental Health; D011640:Public Policy; D012036:Refugees / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology; D013557:Switzerland