[The asylum seeking process a breeding ground for apathy among certain children. A negative answer concerning the residence permit is often a triggering factor].

In this study, 124 of 1,299 children from asylum seeking families living in northern Sweden required psychiatric help. Compared to Swedish children a larger proportion seeks psychiatric help. In the last few years more children seeking asylum have had severe generalised losses of functions and need help with activity of daily life. Almost every child's health condition improves when they get permission to stay in Sweden. Children from the former Soviet Union seek help more frequently than children from other countries do.