Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Barriers and opportunities: improving access to mental health support for refugees and people seeking asylum
- Authors:
- VCSE HEALTH AND WELLBEING ALLIANCE, BRITISH RED CROSS
- Publisher:
- British Red Cross
- Publication year:
- 2022
- Pagination:
- 27
- Place of publication:
- London
This research seeks to explore the barriers faced by adult refugees and people seeking asylum when trying to access support for their mental health. By working closely with 16 individuals with lived experience of seeking asylum in England (VOICES Ambassadors), the research draws on some of the benefits of co-production. The fieldwork consisted of two focus groups with 16 professionals working within organisations such as the NHS and charities such as Solace, Doctors of the World and the British Red Cross who provide mental health services and/or related support to refugees and people seeking asylum. The research has highlighted multiple barriers experienced by refugees and people seeking asylum when attempting to access support for their mental health. These included: a lack of awareness of available support (among both refugees and people seeking asylum and professionals); problems with accessing support (including stigma, language barriers, digital exclusion and financial hardship); issues with quality and delivery of care (a lack of trauma-informed working, communication issues and problems associate with the dispersal process) and inadequate feedback mechanisms. Participants also agreed on the importance of addressing social determinants of mental health, particularly concerning social isolation. Ambassadors identified several opportunities to address the barriers encountered when attempting to access mental health support and to address the factors which contribute to poor mental health: ensure a person-centred, trauma-informed approach; improve communication with refugees and people seeking asylum; improve communication between services; provide access to peer support; improve continuity of care; ensure effective feedback mechanisms. (Edited publisher abstract)
Here we make friends
- Author:
- GLASSMAN Julie
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Today, November 2005, pp.12-13.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
This article reports on efforts to help asylum seekers overcome the trauma of their exile. One of the projects discussed is the 'Natural Grow Project', set up by the Medial Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, which uses gardening as a form of therapy. The Foundation gives each client their own plot to cultivate, and both a mental health worker and a psychotherapist to provide emotional support. The health service's failure to provide adequate support is also highlighted in the article.
Will the gates open?
- Author:
- FOGGITT Rachel
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 2.9.04, 2004, pp.28-29.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Looks at how identity card schemes could further marginalise vulnerable people, and create barriers to vulnerable people getting the services they need.
No safe refuge: experiences of LGBT asylum seekers in detention
- Author:
- BACHMANN Chaka L.
- Publisher:
- Stonewall
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 32
- Place of publication:
- London
Joint report from Stonewall and the UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group (UKLGIG) which investigates the experiences of LGBT asylum seekers seeking asylum due to persecution for their sexual orientation or gender identity. Researchers conducted 22 interviews with LGBT asylum seekers who had been held in UK detention centres. Interviews covered their experiences with staff and other detainees, their physical and emotional well-being in detention, and access to legal and health services. Participants were from 11 different countries in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and Russia. The research found that LGBT asylum seekers are particularly vulnerable in immigration detention and experience discrimination, harassment and violence from other detainees and from members of staff. The detention environment has serious long-term effects on their mental and physical well-being. The LGBT asylum seekers interviewed felt forced to hide their identity, for fear of abuse. Detainees who were known to be LGBT were bullied, harassed or physically attacked by other detainees, and victims said they did not feel protected by detention staff. Interviewees also reported being denied access to medication, such as anti-depressants and HIV-drugs. Direct quotations from the interviews are included throughout. The findings show that staff are ill-equipped to meet the needs of LGBT people or to protect them from harassment from fellow detainees. The report makes recommendations, including for the Home Office to implement alternatives to detention and the provision of guidance and training for staff in immigration and removal centres to enable them to identify and tackle homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. (Edited publisher abstract)
'Unheard voices': listening to refugees and asylum seekers in the planning and delivery of mental health service provision in London
- Authors:
- PALMER David, WARD Kim
- Publisher:
- Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 82p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
Noting that research into the mental health needs of asylum seekers and refugees has shown that they are likely to experience poorer mental health than native populations and are amongst the most vulnerable and socially excluded people in society, and that the Department of Health has identified Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as the most common problem among asylum seekers and refugees, this research aims to provide an insight into the views of potential and actual service users, exploring the views of service providers, including community groups and the voluntary sector, and the priorities of commissioners in order to draft a good practice guide on mental health provision for asylum seekers and refugees. The report includes an outline of the context and main themes in research on refugees and mental health, the study methodology and findings, and its recommendations in the form of a good practice guide discussing the main themes and priorities emerging from the service user interviews, partnership working, working holistically, accessibility and engagement, cultural sensitivity and understanding, care provision, and evaluation, consultation and planning and funding for future services.
Improving mental health support for refugee communities: an advocacy approach
- Author:
- MIND
- Publisher:
- MIND
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 45p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The Refugee and asylum-seeker mental health advocacy project was developed to build a better understanding of the mental health concerns of refugees and asylum-seekers in England and to use these data to improve their ability to find pathways to appropriate mental health support. The core approach was to work with advocates from refugee community organisations to develop a robust form of mental health advocacy. This form of advocacy includes not only focused support for individuals, but also advocacy for the community as a whole. In the community function the aim was to create a dialogue with the community on issues of mental health (including stigma) and to engage with primary care trusts and other provider agencies to develop community-focused services. In this report, Mind worked with Refugee Community Organisations (RCOs) to examine the role they play in refugee and asylum seeker mental health and found that PCTs and Local Authorities need to do more to improve their engagement with RCOs and develop more culturally appropriate services.
'They would rather die than live their lives like this'
- Author:
- GOULD Mark
- Journal article citation:
- Young Minds Magazine, 93, March 2008, pp.32-34.
- Publisher:
- YoungMinds
London's Kurdish and Turkish communities have lost 17 young men to suicide. The author reports on how mental health services are failing to reach these groups.
Barriers to access to mental health services for migrant workers, refugees and asylum seekers
- Authors:
- FRANKS Wendy, GAWN Nicola, BOWDEN Gillian
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Public Mental Health, 6(1), March 2007, pp.33-41.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This paper reports findings from a qualitative study of the mental health needs of refugees, asylum seekers and migrant workers living in an East Anglian seaside town with high rates of socio-economic deprivation. Nine key informants were recruited from people working with refugees, asylum seekers and migrant workers, and from people who were either members of, or had extensive knowledge of the issues affecting the relevant communities. Barriers were reported both at the stage of seeking services and in accessing services once sought. Barriers to seeking services included different understandings of mental health problems, lack of acknowledgement, discussion and prioritisation of mental health problems, stigma, lack of knowledge of service, fear of authority and lack of trust. Barriers to access included previous negative experiences of accessing NHS services, resource limitations, lack of interpreting and translation services, and practical barriers such as transport and hours of appointments. The findings are discussed in relation to mental health service delivery and mental health promotion.
Refugees and mental health
- Author:
- THOMPSON Audrey
- Journal article citation:
- Diverse Minds Magazine, 9, June 2001, pp.6-7.
- Publisher:
- MIND
Reports on how refugees experience up to five times more incidence of mental illness than the general population and yet they are not well served by statutory services.
Extending the "move-on" period for newly granted refugees: analysis of benefits and costs
- Author:
- PROVAN Bert
- Publisher:
- London School of Economics. Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Pagination:
- 52
- Place of publication:
- London
This report considers the impact of extending the current 28 day "move-on" period which is allowed to refugees, once they are awarded Leave to Remain in the UK to a period of 56 days. The move-on period allows for the continuation of Section 95 subsistence and accommodation grants from the Home Office for 28 days, with the aim that work and/or mainstream benefits can be secured, and alternative accommodation arranged, by the time this support is stopped. The report critically reviews evidence about current levels of destitution and homelessness amongst refugees, particularly those whose Section 95 support has recently ended. This evidence is then considered in terms of costs and possible benefits of extending the Section 95 accommodation and subsidy period to 56 days. Costs are from extending the S95 accommodation and support for the extra 28 days. Benefits are in terms of savings to public expenditure on services like health, mental health and prevention and relief of homelessness (including the provision of more expensive Local Authority temporary accommodation). The analysis estimates net benefits of changing the policy to range from approximately £4 million to £7 million pounds. (Edited publisher abstract)