Publicação
Access and utilization of Portuguese mental healthcare services by migrant children and adolescents: perceptions and experiences
| Resumo: | ABSTRACT - In recent decades, international migration has emerged as a major social determinant of health, shaping the well-being of individuals and families across the globe. Children and adolescents from migrant backgrounds are particularly vulnerable to mental health challenges due to the combined effects of developmental transitions and migration-related stressors. This study explores the perceptions and experiences of migrant families regarding access and utilization of mental health services for children and adolescents in Portugal, addressing a critical gap in national research. A qualitative, exploratory approach was adopted, involving focus groups with migrant families recruited through non-governmental organizations using purposive sampling. Participants included parents or caregivers from diverse cultural and migratory backgrounds. Five focus groups were conducted, organized by shared linguistic and cultural characteristics, with 4 to 8 participants per group, with a total of 30 participants. Discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns of utilization, barriers to access, and key sources of support such as community organizations, schools, and informal networks. Results revealed distinct patterns of service utilization, with emergency departments frequently serving as the main entry point to mental health care due to difficulties accessing primary care. Migrant families reported facing significant barriers, including bureaucratic obstacles in obtaining healthcare user numbers, economic constraints, geographic challenges, and language barriers. Despite these difficulties, formal support from Non-Governmental Organizations and schools, as well as informal networks and technological tools such as translation apps, were identified as key facilitators in overcoming access barriers. The findings highlight the urgent need for systemic changes including simplified administrative procedures, improved cultural competence among healthcare professionals, and stronger coordination between health, education, and community sectors to improve access to mental health services for migrant children and adolescents. Addressing structural barriers such as economic, geographic, and language challenges, alongside institutional obstacles, and integrating community support mechanisms are critical to promoting equity in mental healthcare and ensuring better outcomes for vulnerable migrant populations in Portugal. |
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| Autores principais: | Inácio, Rafael Pereira |
| Assunto: | Migrant families Children and adolescents Mental health services Barriers to healthcare access Sources of support Famílias migrantes Crianças e adolescentes Serviços de saúde mental Barreiras de acesso aos cuidados Fontes de apoio |
| Ano: | 2026 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | dissertação de mestrado |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso aberto |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade Nova de Lisboa |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | Repositório Institucional da UNL |
| Resumo: | ABSTRACT - In recent decades, international migration has emerged as a major social determinant of health, shaping the well-being of individuals and families across the globe. Children and adolescents from migrant backgrounds are particularly vulnerable to mental health challenges due to the combined effects of developmental transitions and migration-related stressors. This study explores the perceptions and experiences of migrant families regarding access and utilization of mental health services for children and adolescents in Portugal, addressing a critical gap in national research. A qualitative, exploratory approach was adopted, involving focus groups with migrant families recruited through non-governmental organizations using purposive sampling. Participants included parents or caregivers from diverse cultural and migratory backgrounds. Five focus groups were conducted, organized by shared linguistic and cultural characteristics, with 4 to 8 participants per group, with a total of 30 participants. Discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns of utilization, barriers to access, and key sources of support such as community organizations, schools, and informal networks. Results revealed distinct patterns of service utilization, with emergency departments frequently serving as the main entry point to mental health care due to difficulties accessing primary care. Migrant families reported facing significant barriers, including bureaucratic obstacles in obtaining healthcare user numbers, economic constraints, geographic challenges, and language barriers. Despite these difficulties, formal support from Non-Governmental Organizations and schools, as well as informal networks and technological tools such as translation apps, were identified as key facilitators in overcoming access barriers. The findings highlight the urgent need for systemic changes including simplified administrative procedures, improved cultural competence among healthcare professionals, and stronger coordination between health, education, and community sectors to improve access to mental health services for migrant children and adolescents. Addressing structural barriers such as economic, geographic, and language challenges, alongside institutional obstacles, and integrating community support mechanisms are critical to promoting equity in mental healthcare and ensuring better outcomes for vulnerable migrant populations in Portugal. |
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