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Mental health charity launches guide to support vulnerable migrants

A mental health guide for the provision of services to help vulnerable migrants has been launched by the charity Mind.
Mental health and migrants

A mental health guide for the provision of services to help vulnerable migrants has been launched by the charity Mind.


Mind’s mental health guide for service providers

The charity says there are approximately 117,176 refugees in the UK – around 0.17% of the total population – and rates of mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety and phobias are five times greater among asylum seekers, refugees and economic migrants than the general population.

Mind said the most disadvantaged migrants, who have fled from persecution or conflict, struggle to access help because of the organisation of the UK asylum system, language barriers and cultural difference.

Supporting service providers

The Mental Health Commissioning with Migrant Communities guide is aimed at supporting service providers, including local Mind branches and commissioners in England and Wales.

Mind head of equality Marcel Vige said: ‘Over the past two years, along with eight local Minds, we have been working with some of the most vulnerable members of society – including migrant, refugee and asylum seeker communities – in order to gain an insight into their unique mental health needs.

‘Supporting the mental health and well-being of vulnerable migrants in local areas is one of the biggest challenges facing commissioners, especially given the lack of research in this area.’


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