Asylum seekers and refugees face unique and complex challenges related to their mental health and they are often at greater risk of developing a mental health problem. The increased vulnerability to mental health problems that refugees and asylum seekers face is linked to pre-migration experiences (such as war trauma) and post-migration experiences (such as separation from family, difficulties with asylum procedures, and poor housing) . Asylum seekers are 5 times more likely to have mental health needs than the general population. However, data shows that they are less likely to receive support than the general population. (Source: Mental Health Foundation) Mental Health
Mental Health Foundation work towards good mental health for all, focusing on prevention. Some communities are at higher risk of mental health problems due to the social, economic, and environmental circumstances they find themselves in, such as refugees and asylum seekers
“Voices and Visibility” is a new MHF project which aims to gain insight into the barriers to civic participation by refugees and asylum seekers. The World Health Organisation has identified community empowerment as the first track to promote health and wellbeing, being ‘the process of enabling communities to increase control over their lives’.
Since 2017, MHF has been working with refugees and asylum seekers to support their mental health using a range of approaches. At the heart of these projects has been the ‘voices’ of refugee and asylum-seeking communities. The Voices and Visibility report came out in March 2022 and gives recommendations on how refugee communities can actively participate on civic forums and other decision-making structures, such as Parent Councils. This research study took a participatory research approach, so it is shaped by the voices of refugees and asylum seekers.
Mental Health signposts and success stories:
Scotland Our New Home features a series of inspirational stories by young refugees from the New Young Peers Scotland group (hosted by YPeople Charity) who wanted to make a film to support other new young arrivals in the process of making home in Scotland.
Coping with TRAUMA – from Good Thinking UK
