What is it about?
This review explores how young asylum seekers in the UK struggle with mental health due to trauma, cultural barriers, and mistrust in services. It highlights the need for trauma-informed, culturally sensitive care to support their emotional well-being. Why you should read this article: To increase your understanding of the mental health needs of asylum-seeking children and young people To acknowledge the barriers young asylum seekers face in seeking and accessing mental health support To explore what you can do as a mental health nurse to promote young asylum seekers’ mental well-being
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Why is it important?
Young asylum seekers are highly vulnerable to mental health issues like PTSD due to traumatic experiences and separation from family. Despite being entitled to NHS care, they face barriers such as cultural stigma, discrimination, and mistrust in services. Mental health nurses often feel underprepared to support them. This review emphasizes the need for flexible, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive approaches to care, and calls for interdisciplinary collaboration, especially with schools and community services.
Perspectives
The authors bring a compassionate and practical lens to this review. His perspective emphasizes the importance of trust, cultural sensitivity, and interdisciplinary collaboration in mental health care. He advocates for empowering nurses with the tools and understanding needed to support young asylum seekers effectively, recognizing the complexity and urgency of their needs.
Dr Sadiq Bhanbhro
Sheffield Hallam University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Exploring the mental health needs, concerns and experiences of young asylum seekers in the UK: a qualitative literature review, Mental Health Practice, July 2025, RCNi,
DOI: 10.7748/mhp.2025.e1742.
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