PURPOSE: Higher incidence of mental illnesses and less access to care is previously reported concerning migrants but few studies focus on the needs and care of migrant groups in psychiatry. The aim of this study was to compare differences in needs and care between migrant and nonmigrant groups of severely and persistently mentally ill (SMI) after the 1995 Swedish mental health care reform.

METHODS: In a Swedish area, inventories were made in 2001 and 2006 of persons considered as SMI. These persons were interviewed and their needs were assessed. In a cross-sectional study in 2006, needs and care were compared between migrants and nonmigrants. In a longitudinal study, migrants and nonmigrants interviewed in both 2001 and 2006 were compared concerning the development of needs and care.

RESULTS: The needs of the migrant group were less taken care of. In 2006, there were more unmet needs in this group concerning accommodation, physical health, psychological distress, basic education and economy.

CONCLUSION: The improvement of groups considered as SMI concerning functional disability and efforts of care found in the actual area did not seem to include the migrant group, at least not to the same degree.