A study by Medici per i Diritti Umani – MEDU (Doctors for Human Rights Italy) just published in the International Journal of Social Psychiatry shows that post-migratory stressors, such as precarious living conditions in large and overcrowded reception centres, have negative effects on the refugees and asylum seekers’ mental health like the violence suffered in the countries of origin or along the migratory route. In the specific case of the study, the patients from CARA Mineo (Sicily), the largest reception centre for asylum seekers in Italy, presented significantly more severe symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than patients from smaller reception centres. At the moment of our investigation this reception centre was characterised by a greater number of daily stressors than those of medium small centres: strong overcrowding; geographic and social isolation of the facility; very long stay, waiting for the completion of the legal procedures for permanent visa; difficulty accessing the National Health System, difficulty accessing psycho-social and/or legal support; episodes of social degradation, violence and illegality. All these factors constitute as many daily stressors generating insecurity and fear, anxieties already provoked by past trauma experiences. At this regard, the large reception centres, such as CARA Mineo, can be considered as ‘re-traumatising models’ of reception facilities which have detrimental effects on asylum seekers and refugees’ mental health. This aspect is particularly relevant as refugees and asylum seekers are increasingly hosted in huge and overcrowded hotspot and first reception centres, even in Western high-income countries. The Moria camp in Greece, recently devastated by a dramatic fire, is one of the most striking examples in Europe. Moreover, even the New Pact on Migration and Asylum just presented by the European Commission really risks fuelling the model of large centres at the external borders of the European Union. The conclusions of the research pose very topical issues for Italy as well, since the Government and Parliament are preparing to amend the security decrees in the coming weeks.

MEDU hopes that the political forces will be able to learn from the past failed experiences. It’s necessary to promote a reception system based on small-scale facilities, integrated in the territory, equipped with appropriate services, capable of promoting real inclusion for the benefit of the refugees hosted as well as the whole national community.

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