The diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder is generally rare among persons with a foreign background
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may develop after a person has experienced an exceptionally threatening or catastrophic event. PTSD symptoms include re-experiencing the traumatic event, avoiding circumstances that resemble the traumatic event, difficulty remembering key aspects related to the traumatic event, and/or persistent mental hyperarousal.
THL's statistics examine the prevalence of PTSD among the Finnish population with a foreign background. The first release of statistics is the current one, which covers the period 2016 to 2020 and thus previous comparison data has not yet been collected.
According to the statistics, PTSD diagnoses were overall rare: 0.7% of the population with a foreign background was diagnosed in specialised healthcare during the review period. Although the total figures are low, the statistics vary according to several background factors, such as background country group. The overall prevalence of PTSD in Finland did not increase significantly during the review period.
Comparative data on the prevalence of PTSD diagnosis in the entire Finnish population is not available for the same period, but in 2007–2010, the four-year prevalence of PTSD diagnosis in specialised healthcare was 0.1% for Finnish-born men and 0.2% for Finnish-born women (Markkula et al, 2017).
Background country and gender differences
The prevalence of PTSD diagnosis was 0.7% among foreign-born people and 0.6% among Finnish-born persons with a foreign background.
In almost all background country groups, the prevalence of PTSD was higher among women than men, including those born in Finland.
International studies have also found that women develop PTSD symptoms more often than men. Part of the reason for the differences may be that women and men are exposed to different types of trauma experiences on average. However, an exception was the Middle East and North Africa group. The prevalence was 2.7% for men and 2.4% for women. The prevalence among those arriving from Southern Europe is also higher than average, 1.1%.
Young people and recent migrants are highlighted in the statistics
Being diagnosed with PTSD was more common than average among young people, new migrants and those who had lived in Finland for 5–10 years.
The prevalence of PTSD diagnosis was higher among those who had lived in Finland for five to ten years compared to those who had lived in Finland for less than five years. This may indicate delays in diagnosis and barriers to access to healthcare services. This conclusion is also indicated by the fact that the prevalence among those arriving from the Middle East and North Africa was high even several years after moving to Finland.
Important Considerations
Since the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder requires that the person has experienced an exceptionally threatening or catastrophic event, it is natural that those arriving from conflict areas also experience post-traumatic stress disorder more often than average. It is important to take this into account in the planning of services.
Those who have come from conflict zones may have been exposed to significant trauma, but the diagnosis rates remain low. This raises questions about the accessibility to diagnostic services.
Understanding the differences between population groups helps to better target services and develop culturally sensitive mental health services.
About the data in more detail
Background information
Statistical quality report
Source
Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the population with foreign background in 2016–2020. Statistical report 47/2022, THL. Published 20.12.2021
Description of the statistics
The statistics examine the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among the Finnish population with a foreign background. The data of the statistics include diagnoses of ICD-10 classification F43.1 in specialised health care accumulated in THL's Care Register.
The statistical report is intended to support the monitoring, evaluation and planning of services for health care professionals, administrative authorities, planners and researchers who need up-to-date information on the mental health of people with a foreign background in Finland.
The appendix tables to the statistics provide an opportunity to plan the services of the wellbeing services counties and to improve their knowledge base.
Update schedule
The statistics corresponding to years 2021 to 2025 will be published in autumn 2026.
Contact details
Senior Specialist
tln. 029 524 8356
[email protected]