Mental health and child refugees

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of the importance of mental health services for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the United Kingdom. It reviews what mental health support appears to be available in the United Kingdom following an on-line search which took place in Spring 2021 and using information gathered through 22 interviews and focus groups with stakeholders. The latter group are defined as people working with asylum-seeking children. The primary stakeholders were local authority staff, although interviews were also conducted with local government associations (London Councils, the Local Government Association), NHS bodies and the voluntary sector. Often, further relevant stakeholders were identified during interviews. The report details the aims, methodology and context, before the findings are presented which is followed by recommendations for improving mental and social care provision for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the United Kingdom.

Keywords:

• Mental health child refugees
• unaccompanied child refugees
• UASC
• trauma
• children

Acknowledgements

Lord Alf Dubs thanks go to all the charities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local authorities and voluntary organizations who found the time to be interviewed and to Dr Katherine Hay who conducted the fieldwork and research. My thanks also to Candida Jones who co-authored and edited the report and provided invaluable help and support.

This topic merits much more time, focus and research that we were able to provide and a much more comprehensive investigation is needed. This should include input from the young people themselves.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest

Report commissioned by Lord Alf Dubs, former Chief Executive of the Refugee Council, lifelong campaigner for refugees and sponsor of the “Dubs Amendment” to the Immigration Act 2016.

Research conducted by Dr Katherine Hay, Higher Trainee in Working Age and Old Age Psychiatry

Report authored by Dr Katherine Hay - [email protected] and Candida Jones - [email protected]