Migrants' mental health recovery in Italian reception facilities

Background: Forced migration adversely affects psychological well-being, with PTSD and other psychiatric conditions common among migrants. While pre-migration trauma is a known predictor of mental health outcomes, the role of post-migration stressors in settlement environments remains less defined. Methods: Mental health of 100 asylum-seekers quarantined for 14 days in Rome, Italy, reception facilities (May–September 2021) was monitored with six instruments: demographics, WHO-5, PC-PTSD-5, Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ), Trauma and Loss Spectrum—Self Report (TALS/SCI-TALS), and LiMEs (Italian version). Statistical tests and supervised learning assessed the impact of first contact with the reception system and identified risk/shielding factors for PTSD. Results: Staying in refugee centers positively impacted mental health; asylum-seekers with PTSD reported more traumatic events and trauma/loss-related personality characteristics; life events predicted specific PTSD symptoms. Conclusions: Past traumatic experiences predict PTSD, while a supportive immediate post-migration environment can improve psychological well-being. Host countries should adopt reception models that ensure effective protection and integration, as in the Italian system.

Emanuele Caroppo, Carmela Calabrese, Marianna Mazza, Alessandro Rinaldi, Daniele Coluzzi, Pierangela Napoli, Martina Sapienza, Maurizio Porfiri, Pietro De Lellis