Seeking Asylum and Mental Health
A Practical Guide for Professionals

A practical guide for professionals and services supporting people seeking asylum, which explores their distinctive mental health needs.

Chris Maloney (Edited by), Julia Nelki (Edited by), Alison Summers (Edited by)

9781009292184, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 1 September 2022

348 pages
23.3 x 15.5 x 1.8 cm, 0.52 kg

'I would recommend this book to anyone in contact with people seeking asylum and feel privileged to have read it.' Avril Bellinger, Clinical Psychology Forum

People seeking asylum face unique challenges and frequently experience mental health problems. Effective support requires an understanding of their mental health needs in the broader context of their lives, cultures and extreme experiences. This book provides practical guidance for professionals and services working with people seeking asylum in mental health, social care, legal, government. managerial and commissioning roles. With authors from a wide range of professional backgrounds, the book is enriched by accounts from people with first hand experience of the asylum system itself. It considers the challenges and dilemmas faced by all involved, including clients, clinicians and service planners, with a wealth of practical information about how to assess and understand strengths and needs, avoid inappropriate conclusions and discrimination, consider treatment options, and write records and reports. The authors emphasise that effective support depends on reflection, humanity and compassion. The book is a must-have resource for professionals working with those who have to seek asylum.

1. Why do people seek asylum? The global context
Rukyya Hassan
2. Seeking Asylum in the UK
Jude Boyles, Robin Ewart-Biggs, Jonathan Kazembe, Jo Miller and Karin Oliver
3. Seeking asylum and mental health Norma McKinnon and Chris Maloney
4. Access to mental health care Alison Summers, Norma McKinnon and Jo Miller
5. Assessing mental health needs Julia Nelki and Piyal Sen
6. Interpreting assessment findings Chris Maloney and Cornelius Katona
7. Formulation and diagnosis Alison Summers
8. Common diagnoses
Piyal Sen, Alison Summers and Chris Maloney
9. Intervention – the essentials Alison Summers and Chris Maloney
10. Specific interventions Piyal Sen, Grace Crowley, Chris Maloney and Alison Summers
11. Children families and young people Veronika Dobler and Julia Nelki
12. Records and reports Janine Bonnet and Beate Dasarathy
13. Improving mental health services Alison Summers, Philomène Uwamaliya, Jude Boyles and Helen Pears
14. Therapeutic complexity Renos Papadopoulos
15. Working with people seeking asylum Chris Maloney, Julia Nelki and Alison Summer.

Subject Areas: Mental health services [MBPK], General practice [MBPC], Mental health law [LNTM1], Asylum law [LNDA3], Social work [JKSN], Refugees & political asylum [JFFD]