“Imagine, 7 Years Without a Future”: A Qualitative Study of Rejected Asylum Seekers' Life Conditions in Norway

Abstract

Asylum seekers are in an extraordinary situation as their future life depend on decisions made by authorities in a bewildering, bureaucratic system, with excessive waiting and unpredictable timeframes. Those that are not granted asylum, and not able to return to their country of origin, can neither spatially nor temporally visualize if, when or how a potential change is going to occur. This paper is part of a larger study based on narrative interviews with asylum seekers and refugees in asylum centers in Norway, exploring their experiences before, during, and after flight. As we found that the life circumstances for those being refused asylum, were highly different from other participants in the project, we chose to address this particular group in a separate paper. The participants in this part of the study consisted of 21 individuals (of a total of 78 participants) in the age range 18–44, of whom eight were female and 13 males. Trough qualitative interviews and participant observation the aim of this study was to explore and describe the life condition and mental health situation of rejected asylum seekers in Norway. We found that the gradual loss of rights, opportunities and finances are experienced as a form of violence that leads to extreme mental and social suffering. This policy clearly conflicts with Human Rights incorporated in the Norwegian constitution, and we argue that it legitimizes treating asylum seekers as a group of undesirable and underserving political bodies, with serious consequences for their mental health and wellbeing.

A cross- sectional study of refugees in Norway and Serbia: Levels of mental distress and social-demographic risk factors

“…Similar descriptions were obtained in the Norwegian sample of the current study, where life in reception centres was characterised by feelings of powerlessness, isolation, and hopelessness. High levels of mental distress in the current study are thus in accordance with descriptions from the qualitative side of this research project ( Sagbakken et al, 2020 ; Sagbakken et al, 2022 ). Refugees from both country groups live in a state of limbo, caught between their previous life in the country of origin, and an insecure future that depends on the acceptance of their asylum application.…”

“…Refugees in Serbia told stories of unbearable events during flight that were characterized by violence and extreme insecurity ( Muecke et al, 1992 ), while the refugees in Norway experienced hopelessness due to their situation and the consequences of violent experiences during flight and in their home country. They did however not experience violence in the present ( Sagbakken et al, 2020 ; Sagbakken et al, 2022 ).…”

“…These findings are in line with results from the analysis of qualitative interviews from asylum seekers in the Norwegian sample who have received a rejection on their asylum application. They described a high degree of stress and hopelessness ( Sagbakken et al, 2020 ; Sagbakken et al, 2022 ).…”

“…However, the qualitative data has been valuable as it provides contextual background. Key findings from this qualitative research were that refugees in both Serbia and Norway had difficulties with unresolved grief, fear, loneliness, frustration, humiliation, and consequences of violence against them ( Varvin et al, 2022 ; Sagbakken et al, 2020 ; Sagbakken et al, 2022 ). Many participants told stories of dangerous situations in their home country that they had fled from.…”

“…In Norway, refugees were met with an incomprehensible bureaucratic system. Inactivity during long waiting periods in reception centers, followed by uncertainty surrounding their application for asylum, led to a feeling of powerlessness ( Sagbakken et al, 2020 ; Sagbakken et al, 2022 ). Many participants in Norway had unmet psychosocial needs and received little support or help for their mental health issues ( Varvin et al, 2022 ).…”