Asylum-seekers in Europe

The group of asylum-seekers is not a homogeneous one, but in all vulnerable. Displaced from their homes, in flight from persecution, often suffering after mental and physical violence, they seek sanctuary in other countries that are free of war, violence and armed conflict. Yet on arrival in Europe – or other countries as well - their health often deteriorates. Asylum-seekers have a higher risk of getting mental illness due to the fact that they often have been exposed to extreme conditions, forced migration and large personal loss and other Human Rights violations - and just due to the fact that they are refugees in a foreign country, may be with another culture, and unfamiliar codices. They often suffer of Post Traumatic Stress Disease PTSD, depression, anxiety. There are (depending on the study) between 10 and 20 % of all asylum-seekers suffering of such psychiatric symptoms.

People that need asylum are often met with stricter enforcement of who to grant asylum in order to try to restrict the flow of asylum-seekers. The process of screening asylum-seekers to decide who is eligible or not for asylum will often worsen their mental health situation.

• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights – Art. 14
  The first international document recognizing the right to seek and enjoy asylum from prosecution. – United Nations, dec. 1948.
  
• Convention relating to the Status of Refugees
  In this convention the UN frames the important topics how refugees are to be treated, referring to juridical status, employment, welfare and other subjects. – UN, General Assembly resolution 429, entry into force april 1954.
  
• Refugees and Displaced Persons
  Very solid and comprehensive information on this topic. The website also provides with the basic legal framework, agencies, as well as education and training materials by lots of quite useful links. – HREA, 2010.
  
• The Exclusion of Asylum Seekers in Europe
  The article discusses mechanisms of exclusion, practiced by a number of European states, and the associated costs. – Liza Schuster, Centre of Migration, Policy and Society, Univ. of Oxford, 2004.
  
• Guidelines on the Treatment of Iraqi Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Europe - 2007
  This paper (30 p.) is in response to the treatment of Iraqi asylum seekers and refugees in Europe, it discusses the background of decisions in whether asylum is granted (or not), and criticises some principles in handling this problem. – ECRE 2007.
  

• Access to Health Care for Asylum Seekers in the European Union
  The aim of this article (5 p.) is “to characterize and compare current standards of health care provision for asylum seekers in the 25 European Union (UN) countries, in order to identify the eeds and potential for improving access to health care for asylum seekers.” – European Journal of Public Health, 2005.
  
• A Shattered World - The Mental Health Needs of Refugees and newly arrived communities
  This solid study (105 p.) presents an overview over the mental health needs of refugees, the typical causal factors arising both in the asylum country and in the country of origin, experiences, detailing a range of strategies to improve the mental health. Focus on UK. – Migrant an Refugee Communities Forum, 2002.
  
• Unheard Voices – Listening to Refugees and Asylum Seekers
  ”…in the Planning and Delivery of Mental Health Service Provision in London”. This solid study (92 p.) presents a research audit on mental health needs, as well as advice in helping/counseling. Useful references and good links. - Commission for patients and public involvement in health, London, David Palmer and Kim Ward, 2006.
  
• Longitudinal Study of Psychiatric Symptoms, Disability, Mortality, and Emigration Among Bosnian Refugees
  The study outlines the association between psychiatric disorders, emigration status, mortality in Bosnian refugees. – Journal of American Medical Association, Mollica et al 2001.
  
• Policies of Deterrence and the Mental Health of Asylum Seekers
  The article outlines how increasingly restrictive measures within the asylum-seeking process can affect the mental health of the asylum-seekers, and creates risk of ongoing posttraumatic stress disorder and other psychiatric symptoms. – JAMA, Silove et al 2000
  
• The Mental State of detained Asylum Seekers
  The article outlines the effects of detention of asylum-seekers in their country of refuge, in combination with underlying trauma. Some years old, focusing on UK, the article nevertheless discusses some basic problems. – Psychiatric Bulletin, Bracken and Gorst-Unsworth, 1991.
  
• A second exile: the mental health implications of detention of asylum seekers in the UK
  Short basic article on the effects of detention on asylum-seekers in the UK. - Christina Pourgourides, 1997.
  
• Asylum seekers and refugees in Britain - Health needs of asylum seekers and refugees
  Presentation of the most important problems asylum-seekers might face, thereunder psychological needs, counseling, communication, with short excerpts on women and children. – BMJ, Angela Burnett and Michael Peel, 2001
  
• Mental Health of refugees and asylum-seekers
  Solid and quite practical, useful article on the mental health problems of asylum-seekers, and how to face and treat them. Target group: clinicians. – Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, Rachel Tribe, 2002.
  
• Mental health of refugees, internally displaced persons and other populations affected be conflict
  This articles states the point of view of WHO on this topics, with announcements which work is planned on this subject. – WHO, 2000.
  

• Mental health among children seeking asylum in Denmark – the effect of length of stay and number of relocations: a cross-sectional study
  This study concludes with that protracted stays at asylum centres and relocations within the asylum system appears to have an adverse effect on the mental health of refugee children. – BMC Public Health, Signe Nielsen et al 2008.
  
• Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
  Very solid submission/study (88 p.) on this topic. It lights up the damaging effect of detention for children, and comes with some recommendations. Focus on Australasian, lots of general facts. - The Professional Alliance for the Health of Asylum Seekers & their Children, 2002.
  
• Traumatic experience and sleep disturbance in refugee children from the Middle East
  Discussion of the connection between sleep disturbance, experience and family situation for refugee children. – Europ. Journal of Public Health, vol 11, 2001, E. Montgomery, A. Foldsprang.
  
• Seeking asylum in Denmark: refugee children’s mental health and exposure to violence
  Study on the effects of asylum-seeking process and mental health of refugee children. – Europ. Journal of Public Health, vol 15, 2005. Montgomery, Foldsprang.
  
• Lone asylum seeking children
  The article discusses the situation of unaccompanied refugee children in the UK (nevertheless lots of general reflections), and how this affects/worsens their state mental health, and comes with some recommendations how to help better. – Imperial College London, M. Hodes et al, 2008.
  

• UNHCR Handbook for the Protection of Women and Girls
  Solid handbook (164 p.) discussing the specific problems occurring for women and girls, especially as refugees. Recommendations how awareness can be increased in the helpers, and the target group can be helped better. No special focus on mental health. – UNHCR, 2006.
  
• Women's Refugee Commission
  This Commission advocates for laws, policies, and programs to improve the lives and protect the rights of refugee and internally displaced women, including those seeking asylum. – Women`s Refugee Commission, 2010.
  

• European Council on Refugees and Exiles
  ECRE represents a pan-European network of 69 refugee-assisting non-governmental organizations, promoting a humane and generous European asylum policy.
  
• Migrant & Refugee Communities Forum
  An english organization, founded to provide help for asylum seekers and refugees in London. Some useful information in general.
  
• The Jesuit Refugee Service Europe
  Working internationally with refugees, EU supported catholic organization.
  
• Medical Foundation for the care of victims of torture
• Refugee Council Online
• British Red Cross Refugee Services
  Website of the British Red Cross service for refugees
  
• Refugee- Action
  An refugee organization based in the UK, but with some general topics as well.