Recent reflections on public health and the changing role of psychology within public institutions have led to a perceived need to rethink psychology with regard to its methods, theories, and practice, so as to better adapt psychology to newly emerging social needs. The objective of this study is to present the Service d'Aide Psychologique Spécialisée aux Immigrants et Réfugiés, active for ten years now at l'École de Psychologie, Université Laval, Canada. This service was created in response to preoccupations expressed by directors of public health and social service institutions, by professionals working in public institutions and by immigration specialists, all of whom questioned the accessibility and adequacy of services offered to refugee immigrants. The service is supported by grants from the Ministère de la Santé du Québec and by the United Nations.
Health psychology; Crosscultural psychology; Refugees