title: Reporting mental health problems of undocumented migrants in Greece: A qualitative exploration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mental health problems are highly prevalent amongst undocumented migrants (UMs), and often part of their consultations with general practitioners (GPs). Little empirical data are available of how GPs and UMs engage around mental health in Greece, a country with a lack of balance between primary and secondary care and limited healthcare provisions for UMs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To acquire insight in the barriers and levers in the provision of mental healthcare for UMs by GPs in Greece.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 12 GPs in Crete, Greece with clinical expertise in the care of UMs. All interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim and were analysed using thematic content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Greek GPs recognized many mental health problems in UMs and identified the barriers that prevented them from discussing these problems and delivering appropriate care: growing societal resistance towards UMs, budget cuts in healthcare, administrative obstacles and lack of support from the healthcare system. To overcome these barriers, Greek GPs provided UMs with free access to care and psychotropic drugs free of charge, and referred to other primary care professionals rather than to mental healthcare institutions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Greek GPs experienced substantial barriers in the provision of mental healthcare to UMs and political, economic and organizational factors played a major role.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Primary and Community Care , Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen , the Netherlands ;
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Teunissen
authors.affiliation: a Department of Primary and Community Care , Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen , the Netherlands ;
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsaparas
authors.affiliation: b Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, School of Medicine , University of Crete , Heraklion , Greece ;
authors.forename: Aristoula
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saridaki
authors.affiliation: b Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, School of Medicine , University of Crete , Heraklion , Greece ;
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trigoni
authors.affiliation: a Department of Primary and Community Care , Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen , the Netherlands ;
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Weel-Baumgarten
authors.affiliation: a Department of Primary and Community Care , Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen , the Netherlands ;|d Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute, Australian National University , Canberra , Australia.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Weel
authors.affiliation: a Department of Primary and Community Care , Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen , the Netherlands ;|c Pharos, Centre of Expertise for Health Disparities , Utrecht , the Netherlands ;
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van den Muijsenbergh
authors.affiliation: b Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, School of Medicine , University of Crete , Heraklion , Greece ;
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lionis
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011057:Politics; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D014171:Transients and Migrants
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
keywords: Greece; Psychological problems; gender and diversity; general practice/family medicine; immigrants; irregular migrants; mental health