Majority in asylum seekers and unaccompanied minors: Practical aspects for an effective inter-professional approach

An unaccompanied minor is a young person under 18 years of age separated from both parents and who is not cared for by an adult invested of this responsability by law or the custom. Their number has increased in Switzerland in 2015, prompting medical and social professionals to adapt their care to respond more appropriately to their needs. Specific elements of an initial health check for these young people, transcultural skills and a good knowledge of the network are necessary to provide optimal management. As these young people grow up and reach legal majority in Switzerland, it is important to anticipate a transition towards actors in the adult medical world. We propose an integrative and transversal understanding of this transition by exploring relationships with the community, associative, social, educational and mental health.