Stuttgart (dpa / lsw) – The psychotherapeutic care of traumatized refugees in Baden-Württemberg leaves a lot to be desired, according to the State Chamber of Physicians and State Psychotherapists. This emerges from the 3rd report on the care of traumatized refugees, which the organizations presented on Human Rights Day (December 10) in Stuttgart.
Too long waiting times for a therapy place, no outpatient offers and lack of staff in psychiatric facilities are the main problems. The chambers see the corona pandemic as an additional obstacle. Loneliness, depression and fear of the future are likely to hit those hard who have no social network due to their insecure residence and who struggle with communication difficulties.
Since the costs of therapy are only covered in individual cases, the organizations appeal to the state government to help finance the psychosocial centers for refugees and trauma victims in the state in the long term. A total of 2500 refugees received help there last year. In 2014 there were 1700. “The centers are reaching their capacity limits and in many cases cannot help to the extent actually required,” emphasizes the human rights officer of the State Medical Association, Robin Maitra. At the moment one is still too dependent on grants and donations, public funds have to be applied for again and again with great effort.
According to Maitra, the state government contributes around 25 percent to the total costs, in other federal states it is around 35 percent. The Asylum Seekers Benefits Act can only enable psychotherapeutic care if the health insurance companies are willing to cover the costs of psychotherapy and interpreters in the centers.
Birgitt Lackus-Reitter, the human rights officer of the State Chamber of Psychotherapists, adds: “We have to assume that half of the people who come to us are traumatized. Half of them need help. ” Without help, the professional and social integration of these people into society is much more difficult.
There are currently more than 40 psychosocial centers nationwide. They all struggle with massive financing problems, as the state funds are only granted for a limited time. This is a problem for those affected with lengthy therapies.
According to Lackus-Reitter, language and cultural barriers between therapist and patient are another problem. Trained interpreters are often not financed. She is a psychotherapist herself and says that many therapists pay for interpreting costs themselves and have to resort to volunteer services.
So that the newcomers can be helped even more effectively, the two chambers advocate examining refugees for possible psychological stress in the state initial reception centers. “The first symptoms such as sleep disorders, restlessness or concentration problems can already be an indication that something is wrong,” explains Lackus-Reitter. Studies have shown that many refugees are traumatized multiple times – for example through torture, kidnapping of relatives or attacks by the military.
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