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Drawing on Judith Butler’s theory of performativity and positioning approaches, this paper examines how asylum seekers actively assert agency in navigating and (re)constructing their subjectivities and identities within research interviews. The analysis explores the power dynamics inherent in the interview setting and broader public discourse, revealing how asylum seekers engage with and respond to these forces. Rather than being passive subjects of discourse, they employ performative-positioning acts to negotiate power structures and assert control over their self-representations. By analyzing interview data, this study highlights the dynamic interplay between power, discourse and agency in the ongoing construction of identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Unaccompanied young refugees (UYRs) exhibit elevated levels of mental distress, including posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), depression and anxiety. Despite the considerable psychological burden, UYRs frequently lack access to mental health care (MHC). The factors that contribute to higher rates of treatment utilization among UYR remain poorly understood. Untreated PTSS can result in chronic impairment, underscoring the importance of identifying these factors. The aim of this study is to investigate factors associated with the intention and actual utilization of MHC of UYRs living in child and youth welfare facilities in Germany. Method: This study is part of the multi-site project BETTER CARE which aims to implement a stepped and collaborative care approach. A sample of N = 139 UYRs who had received a treatment recommendation for trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) was analyzed. Binomial logistic regression was performed to identify factors predicting the likelihood of intention to seek MHC. In addition, the association between intention to seek MHC and actual utilization was determined using a chi square test. Results: The results demonstrated a significant correlation between age (η = 0.25, p <.01), length of stay in Germany (η = 0.28, p <.01), and severity of PTSD symptoms (η = 0.26, p <.01) with intention to use MHC. In the logistic regression analysis, PTSD emerged as a significant predictor of intended use (B = 2.66, p <.05). The utilization of MHC was found to be closely associated with the initial intention to use (χ²(1) = 88.846, p <.001). Conclusions: The findings contribute to an expanding body of literature on the mental health requirements and service utilization patterns among UYRs, offering insights for policymakers, mental health professionals, and child welfare services striving to enhance care for this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immigration news coverage is often characterized by negativity, marked by a lack of representation of immigration stakeholders, and frequent instances of terminology misuse. Such depictions of immigration risk to perpetuate stereotypes and distort public perceptions concerning immigration. Although prior research has scrutinized the content of immigration news, how journalists give rise to the framing and voice of asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants remains underexplored so far. Since press agency content often serves as a starting point for other newsrooms, we conducted three focus groups with 21 journalists from Belgium's largest press agency, Belga. Our findings show that journalists recognize the negativity bias in immigration coverage, which may be influenced by external actors such as politicians or NGOs. Journalists attribute the lack of a voice for immigration stakeholders to language barriers, organizational limitations, and the time pressures of 24/7 news reporting. Additionally, terminological complexities regarding asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants hinder accurate representation. When reporting on international news, journalists frequently resort to external sources, given the limited opportunities for fact-checking. Our study implies that journalists do not operate in isolation and journalistic routines, organizational roles, and external actors, such as NGOs or political parties, shape immigration coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ongoing global crises are forcing an increasing number of people to seek refuge in other countries. Refugees have often experienced multiple potentially traumatic events before and during their flight and are burdened by psychosocial problems in exile. Epidemiological research suggests that many refugees suffer from depression and need psychological care. Yet, a systematic review of psychological interventions for refugees with depression is lacking. Method: After registering in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), a systematic search for trials of psychological interventions for adult refugees with depression was conducted across three electronic databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science, & PsycINFO). Relevant data reported in original journal publications were extracted, synthesized and assessed qualitatively by two independent raters. The methodological quality of included trials was assessed. Results: Of 1316 publications, a total of 20 studies met eligibility criteria. Nine of these trials were carried out in an individual setting and ten in a group setting, with one of the trials being conducted digitally. Nine studies were designed as a randomized controlled trial (RCT), with only one of them using an active control group. In nine trials, the use of an interpreter was reported. Three of the trials applied multimodal treatments, and a total of sixteen studies applied manualized treatments. Seventeen interventions were adaptations of treatment programs developed in high income countries within a western context. Overall, nineteen out of twenty trials reported a significant improvement in depressive symptoms. Culturally adapted cognitive behavioural therapy (CA-CBT) was most frequently used (4 RCTs) and produced large effect sizes. Overall, all trials had limitations in study design. Conclusions: Our current review suggests that psychological interventions, and in particular CA-CBT interventions, can significantly improve depressive symptoms in refugees. However, the small number of trials and limitations in study design underscore the need for more research in this field. The protocol for this review was registered in PROSPERO; registration number: CRD42021251943. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As Global North countries act to obstruct unwanted asylum seeker arrivals, the expenditure of immense amounts of financial capital is crucial to achieving their policy goals. The funding is directed toward securing the cooperation of third country governments and privatizing the operation of offshore facilities by non-state for-profit actors. We argue that in addition to the cooperation of host states, infrastructure, and service provision, the immense levels of funding purchases attenuated governance. Attenuated governance is a notion that describes policies that enable governments to evade responsibility and accountability for direct human harms and poor social outcomes caused by refugee externalization policies. What looks like financial mismanagement is, in fact, the government achieving its goals of attenuation. Australia's policy of offshore processing is an emblematic case, where significant financial investments to PNG and Nauru, and the private corporations operating the detention centers, has contributed to a weakened accountability structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dissociative subtype of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD-DS) denotes a severe type of PTSD associated with complex trauma exposure and psychiatric comorbidity. Refugees may be at heightened risk of developing PTSD-DS, but research is lacking. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine PTSD-DS and its demographic, trauma-related, and clinical correlates among a convenience sample of refugee patients over 18 years old who were diagnosed with PTSD according to DSM-5. PTSD-DS (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5), trauma exposure (Life Events Checklist for DSM-5) and general psychopathology (Brief Symptom Inventory) were assessed at intake. T-tests, chi-square tests, and logistical regression analysis were conducted. The final sample consisted of 552 participants (177 (32.1%) women; 375 (67.9%) men; average age 40.0 years (SD = 11.2)) who originated from 63 countries. Of those, 158 (28.6%) met criteria for PTSD-DS. Participants with PTSD-DS scored significantly higher on PTSD symptom severity (t(550)=-5.270, p <.001), number of traumatic event types (t(456)=-3.499, p <.001), and exposure to sexual assault (χ(1) = 6.471, p =.01) than those without PTSD-DS. The odds of having PTSD-DS increased by 14.1% with exposure to each additional traumatic event type (OR = 1.141, CI 0.033–1.260). In conclusion, around 29% of adult treatment-seeking refugees with PTSD met the criteria for PTSD-DS. Those exposed to multiple traumatic event types including sexual assault, regardless of sex, were especially at risk. Having PTSD-DS was associated with more severe PTSD. Prioritizing trauma-focused treatment for those with PTSD-DS is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees live with extreme stress, consistent vulnerability, and life-long health consequences. Children in these populations face an increased risk of poor mental health because of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). To implement an ACE screening questionnaire for all migrant children aged < 19 years in a community shelter. The Model for Improvement. The Pediatric ACEs and Related Life Events Screener was implemented over 10 weeks in a community shelter. All children screened had at least 1 ACE. Initiation of screening led to the recognition of adverse experiences, thus allowing for mental health support and referrals to mental health specialists. This quality improvement project supports screening for ACEs in migrant children to uncover potential mental health concerns and provide targeted support, recognizing the long-term effects of trauma on their well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze the externalities arising from a bilateral asylum policy—the list of safe origin countries—relying on a tractable model. Using self-collected monthly data, we estimate that including one origin country on the safe list of a given destination decreases asylum applications from that origin to that destination by 29 per cent. We use a counterfactual policy simulation to quantify the spillover effects occurring across origin and destination countries. Individuals from targeted origin countries move to alternative destinations. Individuals from untargeted origins divert from alternative destinations. The magnitude of the externalities depends on the size of the affected flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Finland, a grassroots initiative for accommodating asylum-seeking migrants in local homes took off in 2015. This hospitable initiative is about offering asylum seekers the chance to live with locals during the asylum process rather than in a reception centre. Drawing on the voices of local hosts, the article investigates how the racialised and gendered public discourses on asylum-seekers are challenged and reproduced in home accommodation. Moreover, it examines the identity work undertaken by hosts in the context of home, here conceptualised as contested and meaning laden space between the political and the intimate. Empirically, the article is based on qualitative interviews conducted with local hosts who accommodated asylum seekers in Southern Finland. The analysis shows how intersectional power relations structure the hosts' expectations and the relationships formed in complex ways, as they narrate the cohabitation experience in relation to gender, sexuality, class, and cultural differences and in relation to broader societal discourses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A record of 122.6 million people have sought refuge and asylum across the globe in 2024, exacerbated by emergencies in Ukraine, Sudan, Afghanistan and by the Israel–Hamas war. This number is set to rise to over 130 million people in refugee situations in 59 countries this year alone. With refugees suffering from higher rates of mental health difficulties than the general population, there is an urgent need to provide an expedient, socially just, transculturally informed pathway into humanistic psychological care services for these individuals. The objectives of this study were to explore how therapeutic practitioners are working effectively with displaced individuals presenting with embodied trauma, their experiences of transcultural approaches to therapeutic work and the impact of working alongside psychopharmacological medications in this commonly overprescribed client group. Method: A qualitative semi‐structured interview was operationalised with 12 therapeutic practitioners who have worked with displaced individuals, utilising reflexive thematic analysis of the data. Results: Findings highlight a critical need for an updated transculturally informed, humanistic, person‐centred pathway of care for each displaced individual. Discussion: This study offers facilitators and challenges to using a humanistic, transculturally updated assessment, formulation, treatment plan, and routine outcome measures for embodied trauma. It also considers the importance of working with a client's cultural context of origin, language, universally understood emotions, cultural strengths, preferences for therapy and use of a psychopharmacological review within a holistic constellation of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines how the phenomenon of migration and the protection of asylum seekers are addressed in international legal texts. Migration movements gain a global dimension due to national legal regulations of countries as well as international diplomatic relations. In this context, various international and regional regulations such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the Arab Charter on Human Rights, the African Union Convention, and the 1951 Geneva Convention play a critical role in protecting the rights of migrants and asylum seekers. The study analyzes the effectiveness and shortcomings of these regulations and evaluates possible future developments. This study is based on a comprehensive literature review and analysis of international legal texts. In this study, it is emphasised that it is possible to realise migration and asylum on a sound legal basis by increasing the effectiveness of regional regulations and harmonising national legal regulations with international standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dropout from healthcare interventions can negatively affect patients and healthcare providers through impaired trust in the healthcare system and ineffective use of resources. Research on this topic is still largely missing on refugees and asylum seekers. The current study aimed to characterize predictors for dropout in the Mental Health in Refugees and Asylum Seekers (MEHIRA) study, one of the largest multicentered controlled trials investigating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a nationwide stepped and collaborative care model. Methods: Predictors were multiply imputed and selected for descriptive modelling using backward elimination. The final variable set was entered into logistic regression. Results: The overall dropout rate was 41,7%. Dropout was higher in participants in group therapy (p = 0.001; OR = 10.7), with larger satisfaction with social relationships (p = 0.017; OR = 1.87), with difficulties in maintaining personal relationships (p = 0.005; OR = 4.27), and with higher depressive symptoms (p = 0.029; OR = 1.05). Participants living in refugee accommodation (p = 0.040; OR = 0.45), with a change in social status (p = 0.008; OR = 0.67) and with conduct (p = 0.020; OR = 0.24) and emotional problems (p = 0.013; OR = 0.31) were significantly less likely to drop out of treatment. Conclusion: Overall, the outcomes of this study suggest that predictors assessing social relationships, social status, and living conditions should be considered as topics of psychological treatment to increase adherence and as predictors for future research studies (including treatment type). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines economic disparities between the asylum population and other migrants accounting for selection on unobservables. With administrative datasets of arrivals since the 1940s, descriptive evidence suggests that the asylum population is 7%–11% less likely to be employed and earn 15%–19% less than other migrants from 2010 to 2014 in Switzerland. Comparing bias-adjusted results considering selection on unobservables to conventional approaches such as decomposition and matching, I find that the bias-adjusted gaps bias towards zero. This suggests that conventional approaches may overestimate the outcome gaps. My results highlight that the outcome gaps persist, although discrimination and other unexplained factors are decreasing over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adopting the approach of O'Shaughnessy et al. (2020), this article attempts to study the impact of different Greek housing services on the freedom of beneficiaries to develop their capabilities for a well-lived life, according to the views of service providers. After drawing links between capabilities, housing approaches and welfare, the article examines four housing programmes in Greece—two for homeless people and two for asylum seekers—through interviews with representatives of housing services. The article argues that Housing First services are thought to have greater impact on beneficiaries' capabilities than services based on the 'Staircase of Transition' approach, but the incomplete application of Housing First schemes, to date, erodes the maximisation of their social effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of local governments in the production, development, and implementation of public and local services is increasing day by day. Considering the social municipality understanding apart from conventional approaches, local governments should base their services on an inclusive, rights-based, and people-oriented service approach. n this study, the role of local governments in terms of the inclusiveness of migration policies and the understanding of social municipality in migration governance has been evaluated in the context of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. n the study, we examined the immigration policies of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (MM) using the Content Analysis method. We found that MM developed an immigration policy based on the right to the city and civil law through the establishment of the Migration Unit in 2019, initiated studies on migration governance, organized meetings and workshops with international organizations and non-governmental organizations to understand the field, and regular meetings with an advisory board formed in order to develop the migration strategy of MM and support the process. The planned activities have been determined to support the coexistence and social cohesion process of local people and asylum seekers. n this direction, the concepts of local governments and social municipality are explained with the dimension of inclusiveness, then the migration governance in Turkey is emphasized, the policies produced by the local governments in the field of migration are given, and finally, the migration policies of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality are mentioned, and the activities developed in the field of migration governance are based on inclusiveness and social welfare. The study was completed by analyzing the municipality and presenting suggestions for developing migration policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consensus gained by far-right parties and movements seems to have a privileged relationship with the migration issue, thus the need to question the relationship between these two phenomena. The objective of this article is to stimulate a reflection that crosses the relationship between integralist neo-nationalist movements and reception policies. To do this we will look at reception not from within but from outside, and at the same time at political integralism not as an “extreme” or marginal movement, but as a more pervasive cultural process that is structured in and between the folds at the centre of our own society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organisations led by refugees or migrants play an important role in their settlement, providing platforms for establishing connections and reaching the wider community. However, our knowledge of how they utilise these platforms for establishing connections and the factors affecting the formation of these connections remains limited. This paper, drawing on evidence from Hong Kong, examines the use of organisations led by asylum seekers as platforms for establishing connections, the roles of these connections in their settlement process, and the factors affecting the formation of these connections. Data were collected from an asylum seeker–led organisation in Hong Kong. The author conducted participant observation and 30 semi-structured interviews with adult asylum seekers while volunteering with this organisation between 2018 and 2021. The findings reinforce the importance of organisations led by refugees or migrants in their settlement process, particularly when official humanitarian aid is insufficient. They utilise these platforms to reach the wider community for support, thereby filling assistance gaps through establishing connections with the local community (bridging) and participating in policy advocacy activities (linking). Proficiency in the local language and institutional responsiveness were found to determine their ability to bridge with the local community and link with policymakers respectively. Overall, the findings suggest that, aside from the engagement of refugees or migrants, the support of host communities and institutional responsiveness are equally important in creating favourable conditions for them to adjust to and establish their lives in a new context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with lived experiences of violence have minimal opportunities to address policies that affect them, which poses challenges to producing relevant results beyond academia. In this paper, we ask: in what ways can groups formulate a collective plan to address policy decisions that harm them? We used a framework called group concept mapping (GCM) with Central American and Mexican asylum seekers (named Migrantes Unidos), who are committed to ending the use of ankle monitors and other forms of detention in immigration enforcement. They identified distinct actions and group values, providing mutual support to each other, developing leadership skills, and receiving strength and knowledge to navigate the immigration system as top priorities. Our field work also showed how GCM participation led to actual subsequent political activism. Our results uncover new attitudes and ideas that add more depth to immigrant political behavior and advocacy. While our results demonstrate that GCM is a useful method to center voices of impacted community members' ideas for change, we also argued that academics and their partners must value reciprocity regardless of the method or framework chosen to answer empirical questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Forcibly displaced women in the Netherlands face increased chances of perinatal mortality and other adverse pregnancy and childbirth outcomes compared to the resident country population, which has been linked to suboptimal care. This study was conducted to gain insights from the experiences of Dutch midwives to inform and enhance the provision of tailored and equitable care for forcibly displaced women. Methods We conducted a qualitative study using semistructured interviews with community midwives who provide care for forcibly displaced women (asylum seekers and recognized refugees) in the Netherlands. Through thematic analysis, we identified the barriers midwives encounter in providing care and explored their strategies for navigating these barriers, aiming to inform recommendations that advance equitable care provision. Results Interviews with eleven midwives revealed barriers across three thematic levels: (1) the interactional level, where barriers related to language and interpreters, cultural differences, and building trust impeded positive interactions between midwives and forcibly displaced women; (2) the organizational level, where barriers concerning relocations of asylum seekers, delays in accessing care, and interdisciplinary collaboration impeded optimal care; and (3) the contextual level, where barriers related to women’s housing conditions, the resettlement process and the mental health of forcibly displaced women impeded midwives’ to respond to clients’ needs. These levels of barriers culminated in a core theme of imbalance between midwives’ expanded responsibilities and the limited resources and strategies available to them in care for forcibly displaced women. This imbalance forced midwives into multiple roles, increased both the practical and emotional burden on them, and undermined their ability to provide optimal, equitable care. Conclusions To enhance the provision of equitable pregnancy and childbirth care for forcibly displaced women in the Netherlands, it is crucial to target the imbalance between the responsibilities that midwives bear and the resources available to them. This requires dismantling barriers at the interactional, organizational and contextual level of care through targeted policy interventions. Structural determinants that perpetuate the imbalance in midwives’ work and restrict their scope of influence, such as restrictive migration policies that contribute to socioeconomic marginalization and poor housing conditions, need to be addressed. Ultimately, midwives themselves require more support and education to recognize and combat injustices in pregnancy and childbirth care for forcibly displaced women.

The absence of justice in European migration policy finds its maximum expression in measures related to migration control and the surveillance of its external borders. This article examines some legislative acts of the political-institutional discourse of the European Union (EU) where the lack of recognition of migrants is observed, affecting equally the individual rights of asylum seekers and migrants in general. On the one hand, the categorization of people into “economic migrants” or asylum seekers along with the rejection at the border or difficulty of migrants in availing themselves their right to international protection is raised. On the other hand, the registration and biometric identification of migrants within the framework of border control and the collective return of migrants through readmission agreements with third countries in the context of border externalisation in the EU is specified.

Abstract Background Access to health services for asylum seekers is legally restricted in Germany. The law is subject to interpretation, therefore the chance of receiving care is not equally distributed among asylum seekers. What services are provided to whom is ultimately decided by health professionals and government employees. The respective prioritization processes and criteria are not transparent. We sought to understand how legal restrictions are translated into daily practices and how this affects the health system. We aimed to outline the complex process of cost coverage for health services for asylum seekers and provide insights into common decision-making criteria. Methods We conducted an ethnographic exploration of routines in two outpatient clinics in two federal states over the course of three months, doing participant and non-participant observation. Additionally, we interviewed 21 professionals of health care and government organizations, and documented 110 applications for cost coverage of medical services and their outcome. In addition to qualitative data analysis and documentation, we apply a system-theoretical perspective to our findings. Results To perform legal restrictions a cross-sectoral prioritization process of medical services has been implemented, involving health care and government institutions. This changes professional practices, responsibilities and (power) relations. Involved actors find themselves at the intersection of several, oftentimes conflicting priorities, since “doing it right” might be seen differently from a legal, medical, economic, or political perspective. The system-theoretical analysis reveals that while actors have to bring different rationales into workable arrangements this part of the medical system transforms, giving rise to a sub-system that incorporates migration political rationales. Conclusions Health care restrictions for asylum seekers are implemented through an organizational linking of care provision and government administration, resulting in a bureaucratization of practice. Power structures at this intersection of health and migration policy, that are uncommon in other parts of the health system are thereby normalized. Outpatient clinics provide low-threshold access to health services, but paradoxically they may unintentionally stabilize health inequities, if prioritization criteria and power dynamics are not made transparent. Health professionals should openly reflect on conflicting rationales. Training, research and professional associations need to empower them to stay true to professional ethical principles and international conventions.

Australia’s border hardened stance has created a culture of asylum prevention, providing a rationale for the use of defence and security as the core argument to prevent asylum seeker protection. Drawing on ethnographic research undertaken with Tamil asylum seekers and refugees from Sri Lanka in Australia, this Field Note showcases the percussive impacts of border policy on lived experiences. I do this by elevating the subjective lens, narrating an encounter with one of my interlocutors to provide insights into the process of meaning-making and explore how everyday life is negotiated amid ongoing upheaval and protracted insecurity. This piece illuminates some of the structural and symbolic barriers preventing safety, stability and a sense of belonging for asylum seekers in Australia along with highlighting the intimate, mundane and practical ways that daily life is performed, despite these restrictions.

Background: Forcibly displaced women in the Netherlands face increased chances of perinatal mortality and other adverse pregnancy and childbirth outcomes compared to the resident country population, which has been linked to suboptimal care. This study was conducted to gain insights from the experiences of Dutch midwives to inform and enhance the provision of tailored and equitable care for forcibly displaced women. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study using semistructured interviews with community midwives who provide care for forcibly displaced women (asylum seekers and recognized refugees) in the Netherlands. Through thematic analysis, we identified the barriers midwives encounter in providing care and explored their strategies for navigating these barriers, aiming to inform recommendations that advance equitable care provision. Results: Interviews with eleven midwives revealed barriers across three thematic levels: (1) the interactional level, where barriers related to language and interpreters, cultural differences, and building trust impeded positive interactions between midwives and forcibly displaced women; (2) the organizational level, where barriers concerning relocations of asylum seekers, delays in accessing care, and interdisciplinary collaboration impeded optimal care; and (3) the contextual level, where barriers related to women's housing conditions, the resettlement process and the mental health of forcibly displaced women impeded midwives' to respond to clients' needs. These levels of barriers culminated in a core theme of imbalance between midwives' expanded responsibilities and the limited resources and strategies available to them in care for forcibly displaced women. This imbalance forced midwives into multiple roles, increased both the practical and emotional burden on them, and undermined their ability to provide optimal, equitable care. Conclusions: To enhance the provision of equitable pregnancy and childbirth care for forcibly displaced women in the Netherlands, it is crucial to target the imbalance between the responsibilities that midwives bear and the resources available to them. This requires dismantling barriers at the interactional, organizational and contextual level of care through targeted policy interventions. Structural determinants that perpetuate the imbalance in midwives' work and restrict their scope of influence, such as restrictive migration policies that contribute to socioeconomic marginalization and poor housing conditions, need to be addressed. Ultimately, midwives themselves require more support and education to recognize and combat injustices in pregnancy and childbirth care for forcibly displaced women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesMethodResultsConclusions\nKEY POINTSAttitudes towards asylum seekers in Australia tend to be negative, and this prejudice is prevalent and not always well understood. There is also widespread support for policies about how to process asylum claims that are criticised globally for being overly punitive. The present study explored the relationships between trait empathy and both prejudice towards asylum seekers and support for a range of policies pertaining to the treatment of asylum seekers who claim asylum to be resettled in Australia.A sample of 193 Australians completed self-report measures assessing classical and conditional forms of prejudice, four facets of trait empathy and support for integrative policies (i.e. community processing) and separative policies (i.e. offshore detention and “turn back the boats” policies).The results revealed that higher levels of prejudice were associated with support of separative policies, whilst higher levels of empathy were associated with support of integrative policies.The results of this study have real-world implications regarding the prejudice and discrimination that is often specifically directed towards Australia’s asylum seekers, with ramifications for the ongoing debates about how governments can and should handle the ever-increasing number of asylum seekers and refugee claimants.What is already known about this topic: Attitudes towards asylum seekers are often negative and widespread, which impacts their health and wellbeing.Policies about how their asylum claims should be handled vary widely across the globe – Australia’s policies have been criticised for being excessively punitive.Attitudes towards asylum seekers can predict support for policies about how their asylum claims should be treated.Attitudes towards asylum seekers are often negative and widespread, which impacts their health and wellbeing.Policies about how their asylum claims should be handled vary widely across the globe – Australia’s policies have been criticised for being excessively punitive.Attitudes towards asylum seekers can predict support for policies about how their asylum claims should be treated.What this topic adds: Prejudice towards asylum seekers predicts support for punitive policies, including those mandating off-shore processing and “turn-back-the boats”.Trait empathy levels predict greater support for integrative policies, including those involving releasing the applicants from detention centres and processing their asylum claims whilst they await the decision on-shore.Higher levels of prejudice against asylum seekers are related to lower levels of all facets of trait empathy.Prejudice towards asylum seekers predicts support for punitive policies, including those mandating off-shore processing and “turn-back-the boats”.Trait empathy levels predict greater support for integrative policies, including those involving releasing the applicants from detention centres and processing their asylum claims whilst they await the decision on-shore.Higher levels of prejudice against asylum seekers are related to lower levels of all facets of trait empathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In recent years, the increasing presence of refugees and asylum seekers displaced from their country of origin, determined significant social, economic, humanitarian and public health implications in host countries, including Italy. These populations are exposed to several potential stressful experiences which make them vulnerable to psychological distress. In fact, the majority of studies addressing the topic found a higher prevalence of mental disorders, especially post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder, in refugees and asylum seekers with respect to the general population. However, heterogeneous prevalence rates have been reported among studies, due to methodological factor as well as to the impact of a variety of risk factors related to stressful experiences lived in the country of origin, during the migration journey and in the host country. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of the main psychiatric diagnoses in a large group of adult refugees and asylum seekers (N=303) in the reception centers of two provinces of the Campania region, as well as to investigate the impact of potential risk factors on the occurrence of psychiatric disorders. Methods: The diagnosis of psychiatric disorders and the identification of subjects at high risk to develop psychosis were carried out by means of structured diagnostic interviews. The following variables were explored as potential risk/protective factors to the occurrence of psychiatric disorders: socio-demographic variables, migration status (refugees/asylum seekers) and characteristics of the reception center,assessed by means of an ad hoc questionnaire; cognitive indices assessed by using standardized neuropsychological tests; traumatic experiences and level of political terror in the country of origin, assessed by means of reliable and valid self-report questionnaires. Results: At least one mental disorder was found in 29.7% of the sample. Most prevalent diagnoses were depressive disorders, anxiety disorders and PTSD. Women showed, with respect to men, a higher prevalence of anxiety disorders, higher trauma levels, and came from more at-risk countries. Higher trauma levels, better cognitive abilities and unemployment and refugee status were associated to the presence of a current psychiatric disorder in the whole sample. Conclusions: Our findings showed a higher prevalence of depressive disorders and PTSD in the sample of refugees and asylum seekers with respect to the general population and highlighted the role of potential risk factors whose identification may guide the implementation of preventive strategies and early treatments in these people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article summarises a storytelling process used to obtain data from five anonymised teachers as part of a doctoral thesis. The small story and story completion approach was used to gain insight into how teachers reconciled refugee/asylum seeker policies with inclusive practice. The process proved a useful way of enabling teachers to consider a range of influences on their personal and professional lives in a supportive environment. The teachers were able to reflect on challenges faced by refugee children and their teachers, including professional dilemmas. As well as providing useful data for the thesis, feedback indicated that the procedure enabled teachers to reflect on their practice, with some introducing changes which impacted positively on provision in their settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aim Findings Conclusion This research study explores how therapists in the United Kingdom (UK) navigate the issue of loneliness when working with destitute asylum seekers (DAS). Loneliness and social isolation have adverse effects on the mental and physical health of individuals, and migrants, including asylum seekers and refugees, are particularly vulnerable to these challenges.The study aimed to provide valuable insights into the strategies employed by therapists to address loneliness in this specific population and may contribute to the development of effective interventions and programmes in mental health services for asylum seekers.Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis of focus group data revealed two main themes: (1) perceived factors that impact loneliness and (2) therapeutic strategies for alleviating loneliness.This paper concludes with a discussion of the findings of this study and provides recommendations for future research directions, aiming to further enhance our understanding and support for DAS in addressing loneliness and to continue improving mental health services for this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Refugees and asylum seekers are more prone to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than the general population. This systematic review aims to determine which psychosocial interventions effectively treat PTSD among refugees and asylum seekers in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Relevant papers were retrieved from the bibliographic databases. PTSD symptoms post-intervention was the primary outcome. Ten studies were selected with 1981 participants. In meta-analyses of Randomised control trials (RCTs), psychosocial interventions for PTSD (SMD −0.60, 95% CI −0.96 to −0.23; I 2 = 91%; 95% CI 75–100; nine studies, 1789 participants) were shown to be clinically effective. Also, in case of depression (SMD −0.59, 95% CI −0.95 to −0.22; I 2 = 84%; 95% CI 50–90; seven studies, 1248 participants). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) had the greatest effect size among psychosocial therapies for this demographic. However, the number of studies is small, and their methodological rigour is limited, thus future study should concentrate on performing more rigorous trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In recent years, xenophobia has become an increasingly important area of research in social work. This study was conducted in the South-Eastern Anatolia and the Mediterranean regions of Türkiye, both of which are densely populated by immigrants. In the study, the mixed method was conducted on social workers working in these regions. In the quantitative section, the Xenophobia Scale was applied on 242 social workers. In the qualitative section, 35 social workers were interviewed. Findings: The findings revealed that married social workers were more xenophobic than their single counterparts (p ≤.05). While those who did not receive training on immigration tended to be more xenophobic than those who received training (p ≤.000), those who worked in the Mediterranean region tended to be more xenophobic compared to their counterparts who worked in the South-eastern Anatolia region (p ≤.05). In the qualitative section featured 35 social workers who fell into three categories: those who did not use xenophobic expressions but were disturbed by the problems that arose with living with immigrants, those who used xenophobic expressions, and those who did not use xenophobic expressions at all. Applications: This study's findings highlight the significant role of non-xenophobic social workers in the field of migration. Additionally, it emphasizes the necessity for xenophobia-focused trainings for social workers. In conclusion, there is potential for enhancing non-xenophobic practices among social workers in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much of the research in social and cultural psychology on refugee integration or acculturation has tended to adopt a socio‐cognitive approach which assumes this to be a 'process' with a defined outcome that can be measured as successful or not. Such approaches tend to overlook the rhetorical function of talk about integration and in this article I show how research from a critical discursive psychology perspective in relation to refugees and asylum seekers has typically focussed on media, political and lay discourses about refugees. However, more recent research has focussed on analysing the talk of refugees themselves which I will show points towards the importance of shifting how refugee integration is considered and that taking a critical discursive psychological approach suggests that, in the context of research focusing on integration, a shift from 'processes' to situated 'practices' is useful where meaning is at stake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migration process is a well-known risk factor for a number of mental disorders, particularly psychotic, trauma-related and major mood disorders. However, refugees and asylum seekers (RAS) often face several challenges in accessing mental health facilities, leading to treatment delays, resulting in worse prognosis and increased risk of referral to the emergency departments or receiving coercive measures, including involuntary hospitalizations in the psychiatric settings. This review aims to delineate the prevalence of coercive measures within the RAS population and identify potential predictors for such interventions, in order to highlight possible preventive strategies. The relevant PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases were searched for papers. Twenty-three articles were included in the review. Our findings highlight that the RAS population is at higher risk of being coerced compared to the native population due to clinical factors, cultural differences and the many barriers to the access to mental health services. Since coercive measures are often harmful and lead to a worse clinical outcome and possible (re)traumatization of patients, specific strategies to prevent this phenomenon are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2020, the Israeli Supreme Court held section 4 of the Law on Prevention of Infiltration and Ensuring the Departure of Infiltrators from Israel, also known as the Deposit Law, to be unconstitutional. Among other provisions, that law required 36 per cent of the wages of foreign workers to be paid into a dedicated account and returned when the person left the country. For years the Deposit Law had a negative impact on the lives of asylum seekers because of its racialised, gendered, ethnonational and religious impact. Its intersectional impact illustrates cultural, structural and systematic violence, which has been particularly punitive for asylum-seeking women, who are more exposed to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). In this context, this interdisciplinary qualitative and empirical research article draws from empirical fieldwork conducted in Israel to understand the intersectional impact of the law. It therefore conducts a theoretical examination of the literature and connects that to the empirical study. Thus, the article empirically and theoretically investigates (i) the extent to which state-created categories foster unlawful multilayered and multilevel forms of vulnerability and discrimination; (ii) the intersectional impact of the Deposit Law and how it is related to SGBV; and (iii) how state-created intersecting vulnerabilities can be diagnosed. The overall goal of the article is to indicate the intertwined nature and interconnection between state-created categories and the inevitability of state-created vulnerabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how accounting can both entrench and challenge an inhumane and costly neoliberal policy—namely, the Australian government's offshore detention of asylum seekers. Drawing on Bruff, Rethinking Marxism 26:113–129 (2014) and Smith, Competition & Change 23:192–217 (2019), we acknowledge that the neoliberalism underpinning immigration policies and the practices related to asylum seekers takes an authoritarian tone. Through the securitisation and militarisation of the border, the Australian state politicises and silences marginalised social groups such as asylum-seekers. Studies have exposed accounting as a technology that upholds neoliberalism by representing policy as objective and factual. Curiously, there has been a wilful intention by successive Australian governments to silence the accounting for offshore detention. We seek to demystify this unaccounting and unaccountability by exploring counter-accounts produced by meso-level organisations that support asylum seekers. We apply a close-reading method in analysing limited governmental accounts and various counter-accounts to demonstrate how counter-accounts give visibility to practices that an authoritarian neoliberal regime has obfuscated. We also reflect on the potential for counter-accounting to foster broader social change by holding the Australian government accountable to moral and ethical standards of care for human life. This paper considers the intersections between accounting and authoritarian neoliberalism and presents counter-accounts as mechanisms that can challenge these neoliberal norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the deportation of Syrian refugees from Lebanon and Turkey between 2017 and 2024. It attempts to bring light on the experiences of these refugees facing forced returns, emphasising the human consequences and complicated causes underlying such actions. The purpose of this article is to raise awareness about the deportation of Syrian refugees and the urgent need for collective action to address this humanitarian disaster and preserve the lives of vulnerable individuals affected by forced repatriation. Using the descriptive analytical approach, this article investigates the legislative frameworks and international commitments that should safeguard refugees from forced repatriation. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (udhr), The 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol and rules of International Humanitarian Law will be used as a standard for the definition and legal framework of refugee’s rights. The article dives into the obstacles that host countries confront, including as social, economic, and political pressures. It also emphasises the necessity of advocacy activities and protective measures to defend Syrian refugees’ rights and well-being. The findings of the article are expected to benefit Syrian refugees and raise awareness about their situation, which will contribute preserve their lives and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]