Vicarious traumatisation in lawyers working with traumatised asylum seekers: a pilot study

Rønning, Line; Blumberg, Jocelyn; Dammeyer, Jesper

doi:10.1080/13218719.2020.1742238

Cited by 11 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…despair and anger) as well as witnessing self-harm and suicidal behaviour. Our findings extend previous research examining the emotional labour of legal representation of asylum seekers ( Westaby, 2010 ) and vicarious trauma experienced by lawyers supporting asylum seekers ( Piwowarczyk et al, 2009 ; Rønning et al, 2020 ). The current research, however, goes further.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Mental deterioration of refugees and asylum seekers with uncertain legal status in Australia: Perceptions and responses of legal representatives

Kenny

Procter

Grech

2023

Int J Soc Psychiatry

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Background: Many developed countries have introduced strict measures designed to deter people seeking asylum. Measures such as held detention, insecure visas, restrictions work and services all impact the mental health of asylum seekers. In 2014 Australia introduced a ‘fast track assessment’ (FTA) system of processing refugee claims for asylum seekers who arrived by boat, those found to be refugees were only eligible for temporary residence. Legal professionals play a pivotal role in protecting the rights of asylum seekers and gain unique insight into the impact of the legal system has on clients mental health. Aim: To investigate how legal professionals in Australia perceived the impact of the FTA process on their clients. Methods: Mixed methods comprising of two phases – (i) an online survey and (ii) follow-up focus groups and interviews with legal professionals involved in assisting asylum seekers in the FTA process. An inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: Survey results were obtained from 38 legal professionals. Follow up in depth qualitative focus groups and interviews were conducted with 16 survey participants. The data demonstrate that legal professionals encounter clients in complex seemingly insurmountable mental health crises including deepening mental distress and deterioration, feelings of hopelessness, defeat and entrapment. Interviewees shared compelling examples of what they believed constituted a direct connection between asylum seekers experiencing uncertainty and deteriorating mental health over time with fluctuations in hopelessness, anger, withdrawal and suicidality. These negative impacts were often compounded by separation from family. Conclusions: The legal framework for determining whether an asylum seeker is a refugee can have a detrimental impact on the mental health of asylum seekers. The mental distress of asylum seekers and refugees is exacerbated by uncertainty linked to both delays in processing accompanied by sustained and ongoing uncertainty of legal status.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Mental deterioration of refugees and asylum seekers with uncertain legal status in Australia: Perceptions and responses of legal representatives

Kenny

Procter

Grech

2023

Int J Soc Psychiatry

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“…The focus of this article, however, has been the impacts of hostile immigration policies on the work, lives and experiences of practitioners working with people seeking asylum, specifically in the immediate aftermath of the refugee reception crisis in Europe and increasing correlatory restrictions. There is a long history of counselling and psychology literatures which discuss the impacts of working with refugee populations specifically, and survivors of violence generally (Adams et al 2006;Galek et al 2002;Pross 2006;Ray et al 2013;Rønning et al 2020). Given that people seeking or who have refugee status do so for reasons relating to persecution, this is a demographic which can be disproportionately affected by conflict, torture, and indeed migration related trauma (Bögner et al 2010;Fog Olwig 2012;Follette and Duckworth 2012).…”

Section: Discussion: the Challenges Of Supporting Refugee Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1) and secondary trauma. As Rønning et al (2020) summarise, "the difference between secondary trauma and VT is that secondary trauma can happen suddenly, in one session, while VT is a response to an accumulation of exposure to the pains of others." Other issues which are relatively common to working with people with complex needs more generally includes burnout, symptoms of which include, "apathy, feelings of hopelessness, rapid exhaustion, disillusionment, melancholy, forgetfulness, irritability, experiencing work as a heavy burden, an alienated, impersonal, uncaring and cynical attitude toward clients, a tendency to blame oneself coupled with a feeling of failure" (Pross 2006, p. 1).…”

Section: Discussion: the Challenges Of Supporting Refugee Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although a harsh prospect, this is an understandable form of armour given high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder amongst lawyers working with traumatised people seeking asylum. Indeed, according to a recent preliminary study with 70 lawyers in the UK, this sat at 51.4% for those with partial PTSD, and 34.3% for those with PTSD (Rønning et al 2020).…”

Section: Emotional and Psychological Issues In Working With Refugee Gmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Managing Expectations: Impacts of Hostile Migration Policies on Practitioners in Britain, Denmark and Sweden

Canning

2021

Social Sciences

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The acknowledgement that asylum systems across Europe are “hostile environments” for migrant groups has increased in academic and practitioner consciousness, particularly in the aftermath of the 2015 refugee reception crisis. However, although the impacts of socio-political hostilities on migrants are well documented, little has been written about the implications of border restrictions on practitioners working with refugee populations. This article expands the focus of hostilities to consider the variable impacts of intensified bordering practices on this group. Based on qualitative research which included 74 interviews undertaken across Britain, Denmark, and Sweden (2016–2018), it outlines the experiences of practitioners working with refugee populations. It highlights that increasingly restrictive or punitive approaches to immigration have had multiple negative effects on practitioners working in this sector. This has potential for longer term negative impacts on practitioners, but also—importantly-refugee populations who require various forms of legal aid, or social and psychological support.

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“…While Piwowarczyk et al 25 reported that 9% of participants received scores indicating mild to severe STS, Raynor and Hicks 24 used a different measure to find 36.7% of participants were in the 'at risk' category for STS and burn-out. Rønning et al 26 used three different measures and reported 34.3% participants scored in a range indicating the presence of PTSD symptoms; 27.1%-35.7% scored in the severe or extremely severe range for depression, anxiety and stress subscales, and 10%-18.6% scored in the range indicting very high or extremely high risk of traumatic stress.…”

Section: Prevalence and Severity Of Mental Health Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental health effects of working as a legal professional in the field of asylum law: a systematic review

Holt,

Mulcaire,

O'Driscoll

et al. 2024

bmjph

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AimsLegal professionals work closely with asylum seekers at many points during an asylum claim. While there is an increasing literature examining the mental health effects of working with traumatised populations, there has been limited evidence focusing on the field of asylum law. This review aims to synthesise the current qualitative and quantitative literature on the mental health effects of working in asylum law.MethodA systematic search from inception to 24 August 2023 was completed on the following databases: Web of Science, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, PubMed, SCOPUS, Westlaw UK, Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals and Index to Legal Periodicals and Books. The search retrieved 11 studies (6 qualitative, 3 quantitative and 2 mixed methods). A thematic synthesis was completed for the qualitative research and a narrative synthesis was completed for the quantitative research, before the findings were integrated into a combined synthesis.ResultsFour main themes and 13 subthemes were generated by the qualitative research. The main themes were as follows: emotional labour, working in a broken system, emotions do not mix with law and detachment. The quantitative synthesis found a variety of measures used in the literature, indicating that common mental health concerns, such as burn-out, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and secondary trauma symptoms, are present across this professional group. The synthesis also provides preliminary findings relating to possible predictors of poor mental health.ConclusionsDespite limited evidence and methodological flaws in the literature, this review indicates that legal professionals are exposed to traumatised clients and difficult working conditions, both of which can negatively impact mental health. It also highlights a number of factors which may predict or perpetuate difficulties. Clinical implications, limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.

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Vicarious traumatisation in lawyers working with traumatised asylum seekers: a pilot study

Cited by 11 publications

References 38 publications

Mental deterioration of refugees and asylum seekers with uncertain legal status in Australia: Perceptions and responses of legal representatives

Mental deterioration of refugees and asylum seekers with uncertain legal status in Australia: Perceptions and responses of legal representatives

Managing Expectations: Impacts of Hostile Migration Policies on Practitioners in Britain, Denmark and Sweden

Mental health effects of working as a legal professional in the field of asylum law: a systematic review

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