A new report from the Royal College of Psychiatrists highlights how the Government has the opportunity to reform the immigration system, while ensuring the mental health of those seeking sanctuary in the UK is protected.
Protecting the Mental Health of People Seeking Sanctuary in the UK’s Evolving Legislative Landscape recognises Government’s early commitments to repealing legislation, such as the Rwanda policy. But it also cautions that substantial change is needed to protect sanctuary seekers from mental health harms.
Created in partnership with survivors of persecution and torture, the report assesses the mental health impacts of rapid changes to the UK’s immigration legislation between 2022 and 2024, on top of the stress and trauma of escaping life-threatening situations.
It finds that sanctuary seekers experience new, or worsening mental illness, caused by prolonged immigration limbo, financial hardship and the threat of detention. This is felt particularly acutely by the large number of individuals experiencing mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The report includes firsthand accounts from sanctuary seekers who felt retraumatised by their experience of the asylum process and ostracised by society.
RCPsych sets out how all relevant agencies and individuals, from Government and NHS trusts right through to clinicians, can contribute to addressing the mental health needs of those seeking sanctuary in the UK.
The College has long highlighted the substantial evidence that detaining people with significant mental illness in immigration detention centres runs the risk of worsening their mental health, resulting in poorer outcomes for individuals, and additional, yet avoidable, burden to the health system. It is again calling for detention in such places to be a last resort.
RCPsych is urging the new Government to seize a once-in-a-generation opportunity to ensure all immigration legislation and policy explicitly protects those with mental illness. It wants the Government to review the mental health impacts of upcoming legislation, building in a requirement for appropriate mental health screening on arrival and regular monitoring, so that mental health needs are met at the earliest opportunity.
Dr Lade Smith CBE, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said:
“It is often said that how a society treats its most vulnerable members is the true measure of its humanity. We cannot, therefore, allow people seeking sanctuary in the UK to be caused further harm by the asylum process.
“As is clear from our report, we particularly welcome the Government’s commitment to repeal the Rwanda legislation, as it did not allow those seeking sanctuary to be appropriately assessed and treated for any existing mental illness.
“Many sanctuary seekers leave their countries after witnessing, or being subjected to, some of the most devastating traumas that can be visited on a person, such as rape, imprisonment and torture. Hazardous journeys to the UK, and rejection by local populations, then cause further risk of mental illnesses developing, or the deterioration of current conditions.
“As psychiatrists, we have a duty to champion the provision of equitable needs-based care for all in society and, as this report highlights, people seeking sanctuary require specific focus. NHS mental health services must build their capacity in trauma-informed care. It must also ensure that this vulnerable group of people can access treatment.
“Denying sanctuary seekers any right to work during prolonged immigration limbo only deepens mental health harms. We urge the new Government to reconsider this approach. Leaving people in economic inactivity is a total waste of their potential and causes immense hardship.
“Sadly, the need for us all to retain our focus on forced migration is likely to increase in the coming years as the number of displaced people worldwide is expected to grow, due to conflict and climate change. We must be ready to meet this challenge.
“A robust immigration policy can still be guided by human kindness, that is fair and compassionate. The Labour government has an opportunity to ensure its new immigration legislation and policies explicitly protect people seeking sanctuary who have mental illness while maintaining the public’s confidence in border control.”
References
Detention of people with mental disorders in immigration removal centres, Royal College of Psychiatrists 2016. Download the full report here: Protecting the Mental Health of People Seeking Sanctuary in the UK’s Evolving Legislative Landscape.
Campaigning for better mental health policy
For further information, please contact:
- Email: press@rcpsych.ac.uk
- Twitter: @rcpsych
- Out-of-hours contact number: 07860 755896