Mental Health and asylum seekers/refugees – interview based research

MGuiness, Rachael (2010) Mental Health and asylum seekers/refugees – interview based research. [Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)] (Unpublished)

[img] PDF - Registered users only - Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader
Download (22kB)
[img] PDF - Registered users only - Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader
Download (51kB)
[img] PDF - Registered users only - Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader
Download (330kB)

Abstract

Abstract

Background

The number of asylum seekers, refugees and internally displaced people worldwide is continually growing. Alongside this, increasingly restrictive policies are being developed, limiting access to support and healthcare and also enforcing detention and destitution on those seeking asylum in the U.K. The adverse effects these policies have on a person’s emotional and psychological health can cause further distress to this population who have already experienced overwhelming trauma.

Aim

The aim of this study is to examine and critically review the literature addressing the emotional and psychological needs of people seeking asylum in the U.K.

Method

A critical review was conducted of the literature which investigated the impact which seeking asylum has upon emotional and psychological wellbeing. A search of online databases and a manual search of reference lists, journals and websites was conducted in order to produce a condensed summary of the events experienced by those seeking asylum, their effects and therefore needs.

Results

The overall findings suggest that the emotional and psychological needs of people seeking asylum are complex in nature and far greater than the U.K. health services currently provide for. Distress is caused by a combination of the experiences of extreme events pre migration, the dangers and anxiety of flight, and the ongoing stresses of life in the U.K.

Conclusion

The work being done by the voluntary and community services is helping to address some of the emotional and psychological needs. However, they are limited in the ability to do so by monetary and support constraints. There needs to be vast improvements in the service provisions by statutory agencies in collaboration with existing voluntary services to address the mental health needs of this population whilst taking into account the wide variety of cultural and linguistic differences.

Item Type: Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
Depositing User: EP, Services
Date Deposited: 01 Feb 2011 09:53
Last Modified: 21 Mar 2022 16:07
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/23622

Actions (Archive Staff Only)

Edit View Edit View