Mental Illness among Polish and Russian Refugees in Bradford

Abstract

Summary: An epidemiological study of first admission to psychiatric hospitals in Bradford revealed that foreign-born people had substantially higher illness rates than native born. Comparing the major World War II refugee groups it was found that morbidity was higher among Poles than Ukrainians. It is suggested that the difference can be partly explained by the lower social cohesion of the former. The resulting marginal identity is insufficient protection against the normal crises and losses of later life.