This is a new project aimed at addressing the gap in mental health service provision to refugees and asylum seekers, especially those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of torture or war.

There is a desperate need for this project. 25% of adults experience mental health problems. For refugees, this is as high as 43%. Refugees are recognised by the state as a vulnerable at-risk group with higher rates of mental distress. The most urgent unmet need is around Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) cause by torture, trauma, sexual violence and war in their country of origin.

Few refugees access mainstream mental health services, counselling or other early intervention services. GPs and community mental health teams feel they lack the expertise to deal with PTSD. Refugee communities feel there are cultural obstacles to obtaining treatment. There is a stigma in refugee communities about mental health and people do not talk about it. This impacts not just on integration and inclusion but can even jeopardise their asylum claims if they are not ready to discuss their experiences. Clearly the current system does not work.

What does works is building the resilience of individuals and communities through close collaboration and mutual co-construction between the individual and the collective. This means early intervention, promotion of positive mental health, addressing social determinants, improving the quality of services, social support and links with community groups, proactive problem-solving approaches and community-based initiatives.

Our project aims to foster individual/community collaboration through refugees reaching out to other refugees to get people talking about the issue, to combat the cultural sitigmas and advocate for better quality services and earlier intervention, supporting GPs and others to proactively reach out and meet refugee needs.