What affects the mental health of people seeking asylum in the UK? A narrative analysis of migration stories

Jannesari, Sohail; Molyneaux, Emma; Lawrence, Vanessa

doi:10.1080/14780887.2019.1581311

Cited by 17 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Understanding of how post-migration environmental factors impact the mental health of people seeking asylum would be deepened if studies asked separate questions about related but distinct concepts. For example, while Morgan et al [ 41 ] asked participants about ‘mistakes and delays in the application process’, Jannesari et al [ 60 ] have reported that people seeking asylum have different experiences and reactions to delays as opposed to mistakes (particularly trivial ones with significant consequences). Similarly, while many studies combined loneliness and boredom, Ryan et al’s [ 44 ] Post-Arrival Concern Checklist assessed them as separate concepts.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post-migration Social–Environmental Factors Associated with Mental Health Problems Among Asylum Seekers: A Systematic Review

Jannesari

Hatch

Prina

et al. 2020

J Immigrant Minority Health

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People seeking asylum are at an increased risk of mental disorder compared to refugees and other migrants. This paper aims to understand the impact of postmigration social-environmental factors to help inform efforts to reduce rates of mental disorder. We conducted a systematic review searching 11 databases, as well as 6 government and nongovernment websites. We asked 5 experts for recommendations, and carried out forwards and backwards citation tracking. From 7004 papers 21 were eligible and had the appropriate data. Narrative synthesis was conducted. 24 Social-environmental factors were identified and categorised into 7 themes: working conditions, social networks, economic class, living conditions, healthcare, community and identity, and the immigration system. Evidence suggests that discrimination and post-migration stress are associated with increased rates of mental disorder. The post-migration environment influences the mental health of people seeking asylum. Discrimination and post-migration stress are key factors, warranting further research and public attention.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post-migration Social–Environmental Factors Associated with Mental Health Problems Among Asylum Seekers: A Systematic Review

Jannesari

Hatch

Prina

et al. 2020

J Immigrant Minority Health

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“…(2015) [ 76 ] ✓ Hiam et al . (2019) [ 67 ] ✓ ✓ Jannesari (2019) [ 43 ] ✓ ✓ ✓ Juárez (2019) [ 73 ] ✓ ✓ Kang (2019) [ 46 ] ✓ Majumder (2019) [ 53 ] ✓ ✓ Majumder et al . (2019) [ 85 ] ✓ ✓ Majumder et al .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although we identified relatively little research in the literature, the UK Government has been criticised for creating a hostile environment for migrants through restrictions on immigration, reducing trust, and people becoming fearful of data sharing[ 41 , 42 ]. Jannesari found ASR expressed feelings of “bureaucratic torture” about the asylum process [ 43 ]. This process, combined with ASRs’ often limited trust of ‘foreign’ (i.e.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Findings indicate many mental health problems experienced by ASR in the UK could be improved if socio-cultural and political-economy barriers could be addressed, including the hostile environment, increasing constraints due to Brexit, and provider attitudes [ 41 – 43 ]. The current UK policy environment provides very limited potential enablers [ 50 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mental healthcare for asylum-seekers and refugees residing in the United Kingdom: a scoping review of policies, barriers, and enablers

Pollard

Howard

2021

Int J Ment Health Syst

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Background Since 2011, a large influx of asylum-seekers and refugees has put pressure on the UK’s under-resourced national health services and mental health services. Asylum-seekers and refugees (ASR) may experience traumatic events pre-departure, life-threating circumstances on their journeys, and difficulties integrating into host countries related to immigration policies, social isolation, poor living conditions, and unemployment, all of which can significantly affect their mental health. This topic is increasingly important due to the numbers of people seeking asylum and growing concern for their mental health on resettlement. This study examined UK-wide policies and guidance, healthcare practices, barriers, and enablers of mental healthcare for ASR residing in the UK. Methods We conducted a scoping review using Arksey and O’Malley’s 2005 framework, which included semi-structured interviews with stakeholders from non-governmental organisations, academia, UK National Health Service, and community groups. We synthesised and analysed literature and interview data thematically to examine current barriers and potential enablers of ASR mental health support in the UK. Results We included 39 literature sources, of 1,638 identified, and 10 stakeholder interviews. Sources, most published in 2019 (n = 13), included data from England (n = 13), Scotland (n = 3), Wales (n = 3), and Northern Ireland (n = 2) and covered access to care (n = 16), mental health disorders (n = 7), impacts on health (n = 7), barriers to care (n = 13), policies and plans (n = 4), and clinical recommendations (n = 3). Synthesised themes from literature and interviews included existing barriers (i.e. communication difficulties and lack of funding, resources, and political will) and potential enablers (i.e. proposed provision practices, social needs of ASR, and policy changes). Conclusions There is a gap in the literature regarding UK-wide assessment of access and delivery of mental healthcare for ASR in the UK. Time sensitive and culturally appropriate approaches are needed, with greater funding and resource support from the UK Government. This study provides justification for a call to relax hostile environment policies, and for ASR-specific mental health services and support to be considered within the UK. Further research is needed to assess implementation of guidelines across the UK.

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“…Risk factors encompassed ‘limited participation in decision-making or low control over one's area of work’. A UK study found that lack of control was a source of mental health distress for people seeking asylum (Jannesari et al ., 2019).…”

Section: The Range Of Risk Factors Investigatedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seeking sanctuary: rethinking asylum and mental health

Jannesari

Hatch

Oram

2020

Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci

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Forced migrants are at an increased risk of mental disorder compared to host country populations. To effectively address this, programmatic and policy responses need to be underpinned by rigorous evidence. Drawing on our experience conducting a systematic review of post-migration risk factors for mental disorder among asylum seekers and our appraisal of related systematic reviews, this paper discusses four challenges facing the field: (1) The reliance on Western conceptions of mental health. (2) The investigation, to date, of a relatively narrow range of potential risk factors. (3) The lack of consistency in the measurement and reporting of risk factor variables. (4) The use of the legal term ‘asylum seeker’ to define study populations. We suggest potential ways forward, including using mental health measures developed in collaboration with communities affected by forced migration, the examination of key risk factors around homelessness and workers' rights, the development of a core set of risk factors to be investigated in each study, and defining study populations using the conceptual category of ‘sanctuary seekers’ – people who have fled their country and are asking another country for safety and residence.

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What affects the mental health of people seeking asylum in the UK? A narrative analysis of migration stories

Cited by 17 publications

References 31 publications

Post-migration Social–Environmental Factors Associated with Mental Health Problems Among Asylum Seekers: A Systematic Review

Post-migration Social–Environmental Factors Associated with Mental Health Problems Among Asylum Seekers: A Systematic Review

Mental healthcare for asylum-seekers and refugees residing in the United Kingdom: a scoping review of policies, barriers, and enablers

Seeking sanctuary: rethinking asylum and mental health

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