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The Experiences and Well-being of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children Professor Dinesh Bhugra Section of Cultural

Definition . Unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC = unaccompanied children) are defined as those who are under 18 years old, who have been separated from both parents and are not being cared for by an adult, who by law or custom, has a responsibility to do so (Thomas

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The Experiences and Well-being of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children Professor Dinesh Bhugra Section of Cultural

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    1. The Experiences and Well-being of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children Professor Dinesh Bhugra Section of Cultural Psychiatry Institute of Psychiatry King’s College London

    2. Definition

    3. Background

    4. Role of the Refugee Council Independent charitable organisation which advises asylum seekers - adults & unaccompanied children - main organisation for unaccompanied children.

    5. Aims of Research Identify physical and emotional health needs and well-being Explore disparities in expectations and aspirations and their actual experiences in the UK Explore how effective advocacy services may be developed Suggest policy and service development.

    6. Hypotheses Female unaccompanied children will report higher levels of psychological morbidity than males Psychological well-being will vary across cultures Twelve-month follow up will show better adjustment in children who have social support in the UK.

    7. Methodology The research took place over two stages at the Refugee Council: Stage one: Conducted over a duration of 1 year 150 UASC recruited: voluntary Stage two: Follow-up interview 12 months after the initial interview Every 3rd child (n=50) followed up and interviewed over this period. Neither sample is random

    8. Method Professional Interpreter services used when indicated Information sheets given to the unaccompanied children and to social workers prior to the interview Informed consent both individually and organisationally obtained when required

    9. Materials Materials used for both stage one and two comprised both quantitative & qualitative measures: The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, 1999) The Child Global Assessment Scale (Shaffer, 1983) Qualitative Interviews 15 short questions on risk and resilience.

    10. Interviews Stage one: Semi-structured interview investigating pre-flight, flight and post-flight experiences and aspirations and expectations of life in the UK Stage two: Semi-structured interview looking at experiences over time in adjusting and adapting to life in UK, strengths, difficulties and support Both previously piloted in a different sample of 100 UASCs

    11. Gender

    12. Country of Origin Majority of clients were from Iran (n=29, 19%) and Afghanistan (n=21, 14%)

    13. Age Disputes 65 (43%) of unaccompanied children were age disputed 55 (37%) not age disputed and seen as being minors 30 (20%) of unaccompanied children were 18 years or over.

    14. Preliminary Baseline analysis Baseline interviews were divided into the following three sections: investigating early experiences; early days in the United Kingdom and aspirations and expectations

    15. Pre Migration Experiences

    16. Migration Experience

    17. Section One: Early Experiences Because my father was a member of an Islamic group…political problems, they killed him. I left my mum and two brothers, now don’t know where they are. The government were after me so I had to leave.

    18. Section Two: UK Experiences My education, going to college, it helps me to get friends, to study, to help me to be what I want to be in the future.

    19. Section Three: Aspirations Like, you know, because I was escaping from problems and that you expect to be sure and not have any issues, and now those issues are getting worse, I don’t know what I’m going to do and what’s the next step, life is getting worse.

    20. Summary Heterogeneity of experiences and expectations Females have much worse experiences: repeated abortions and rapes Social Services doing a tremendous job Follow up raises issues about dispersal and changes in social support

    21. Further Information

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