Press releases

New report reveals anguish and strength of asylum seeking young people and children

Issued: 14 July 2008

“I started adapting a little bit. But then at night I would have, like, really strange dreams and stuff and sometimes I wouldn’t sleep at all. I would just say I don’t really want to sleep. I don’t know what happened to my parents, are they dead or something?” Nadine from Rwanda.

Refugee and asylum-seeking children and young people’s experiences have a profound impact on their emotional well-being and mental health, reveals a major new study by the Thomas Coram Research Unit at the Institute of Education.

Fifty-four young people from 18 different countries of origin, aged 9 to 17 on arrival in the UK, were interviewed for the study which is to be published by the British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) today. The study aimed to ascertain how these children and young people arriving on their own to seek asylum in the UK, were affected psychologically and emotionally by their experiences. It concluded that young people continued to be deeply affected by the trauma and distress they had suffered in their countries of origin, but also by the impact of their journey to the UK. The treatment they received once they arrived had both positive and negative effects on their emotional well-being. At the same time this group of young people, in the face of adversity, were often remarkably courageous and resilient.

The findings are relevant to all agencies that provide services to asylum-seeking young people and will help ensure that they receive the support, help and advice they need. They also counter the negative image often portrayed of asylum seekers.

Elaine Chase, co-author of the report says “We hope that this report goes some way towards raising the profile of the needs of unaccompanied young people seeking asylum here in the UK and helps to guide policy and practice so that young people access the best possible care and support to promote their emotional well-being.” John Simmonds, Director of Policy, Research and Development at BAAF said “This study sets out, in the clearest of ways, the struggle, pain, ambitions and hopes of a remarkable group of young people. It is timely as it coincides with the Government’s commitment to improve the physical, mental and emotional health and well-being of all children and young people in the UK”.

The emotional well-being of young people seeking asylum in the UK is available to purchase from our online Bookshop

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Notes to editors:

1. For more information or for interviews with either Elaine Chase or John Simmonds, please call the BAAF press office on 0202 7421 2633 or email jane.elston@baaf.org.uk. For out of hours enquiries, please call 07767 444 589
2. Thomas Coram Research Unit is a multi-disciplinary research unit within the Institute of Education at the University of London. Its principal function is to carry out policy-relevant research within a changing world.  The focus of its research is children and young people both within and outside their families.  This includes care, education, health and social service settings.