SUPPORTING ASYLUM-SEEKERS

摘要

It will come as little surprise that many asylum-seekers have poor mental health. Women and child asylum-seekers are particularly vulnerable as they are more likely to have mental health problems due to sexual exploitation, rape, trafficking, domestic abuse and neglect, all of which impacts on their physical and mental wellbeing. Many health-visiting services in the UK have asylum-seeking families on their caseload who have fled war and persecution in their home countries (Cowley et al, 2013) and may have experienced trauma and abuse that impacts on their mental health (Freeman, 2007). Depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder are common, and poor mental health can then further deteriorate because of difficulties in accessing healthcare through, for example, lack of understanding of the UK health and social systems.