Mental Health Among Adolescents with a Migration Background: A Descriptive Study

Acta Med Port. 2026 May 27. doi: 10.20344/amp.24480. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Migration may be associated with psychosocial challenges affecting adolescent mental health. This retrospective study described psychiatric hospitalizations of adolescents with a migration background in a child and adolescent psychiatry inpatient unit between December 2016 and June 2024. Forty-four adolescents were identified, accounting for 51 hospitalization episodes. Most patients were female (66%), with a mean age of 15.34 ± 1.47 years, and 91% were first-generation migrants. Suicidal ideation was the most frequent reason for admission (31.38%). Most admissions originated from the emergency department (84.32%), with a mean length of stay of 18.47 ± 10.62 days. At discharge, the most frequent diagnoses included depressive disorders (36.36%), trauma- and stressor-related disorders (22.73%), and schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders (13.64%). Most adolescents had no previous contact with mental health services (63.6%). These findings highlight the clinical relevance of this population and the need for early intervention strategies and improved coordination between healthcare, education and community services.

PMID:42202306 | DOI:10.20344/amp.24480