The plight of racialised minorities during a pandemic: migrants and refugees in Italy and Australia

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah De Nardi ◽  
Melissa Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Racial Inequality ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Migrant Communities ◽  
Vulnerable Communities ◽  
The Face ◽  
Support Mechanisms ◽  
Supportive Messages ◽  
Asylum Seekers And Refugees

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to draw on data from interviews with six Italian migrant service providers and media stories in Italy and Australia to weave a comparative snapshot of the plight of precarious migrant and refugee communities in these two countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe article draws attention to prejudicial shortcomings towards vulnerable migrant communities enacted by the states of Italy and Australia in response to COVID-19.FindingsWhile the unequal ecology of the pandemic has flared up the need for the State to strengthen participation and inclusion policies, it has also provided opportunities to foreground the disadvantages vulnerable communities face that also demand policy attention and sustained funding. Governments in migrant-receiving countries like Australia and Italy need to articulate culturally sensitive and inclusive responses that foreground agencies give vulnerable migrants, asylum seekers and refugees clear, supportive messages of solidarity leading to practical solutions.Originality/valueThis paper relays preliminary data from the coalface (migrant service providers) and media as the pandemic evolved in the two countries, whose support mechanisms had never before been critically compared and evaluated through the lens of racial inequality in the face of a health and social crisis.

The cultural context of sexual and reproductive health support: an exploration of sexual and reproductive health literacy among female Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Glasgow

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-64
Author(s):  
Mari Kaneoka ◽  
William Spence
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Asylum Seekers And Refugees

Purpose Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) incorporates prevention of unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The sourcing, understanding and application of related information are important for health and this defines sexual and reproductive health literacy (SRHL). Health care utilization rates among Asylum Seekers and Refugees (ASRs) may not be high and they are unlikely to seek sufficient SRH information and care in their host countries, leaving some needs unmet. No SRHL research related to Scotland’s Asylum Seeking and Refugee Women (ASRW) exists. In this qualitative study, the purpose of this paper is to explore the SRHL-related views and experiences of adult ASRW living in Glasgow and their views on assistance required to improve their SRHL. Design/methodology/approach In total, 14 semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed and qualitative thematic analysis employed. Findings Five themes and 13 sub-themes with four key findings highlighted: experience of unmet SRHL needs, similarities and differences in the source of SRH information, SRH views and behaviours influenced by cultural and religious factors, barriers and facilitators to accessing SRH information/care and developing SRHL. Research limitations/implications This was a small scale qualitative study affording limited transferability. The work addressed a highly sensitive topic among women from conservative home country cultures. Practical implications Routine collection of sexual and reproductive health data by the NHS should be explored for this group. NHS staff should be aware of the rights of asylum seekers, Refugees and failed asylum seekers, to NHS healthcare free at the point of delivery in Scotland (National Health Service, 2019; Scottish Government, 2018), and be well trained in the likely religious and cultural norms of these groups. Host communities should consider improving access to SRH information and care in ASRWs first languages. Social implications The study identified weaknesses in the opportunities for social integration afforded this group and the coordination of existing social opportunities. The stigmatization of immigrants in the UK is well understood and has repercussions for many individuals and societal organizations implicated in the promotion of this. Originality/value This paper addresses a very sensitive topic with women from conservative cultures. With few publications in this area, and none pertaining to Scotland, the paper makes a small but original contribution that might be considered a starting point for researchers and relevant services in Scotland.

What needs re-thinking in services management in the dawning age of Asian travellers?

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardo (Don) A.N. Dioko
Keyword(s):  
Service Management ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Training And Development ◽  
Service Organizations ◽  
New Wave ◽  
Theme Issue ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Language And Culture ◽  
Service Setting ◽  
The Face

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to draw upon the various articles in this theme issue and identify the key services management principles that merit re-thinking in the face of the growing and enduring trend of Asian travellers. Design/methodology/approach – As a conclusion, this paper reviews the findings of the articles in this theme issue collection and synthesizes them thematically as well as strategically for both scholars and practitioners of services management and marketing. Findings – There are five key assumptions that need re-thinking if services management organizations are to adequately meet the challenges of a more demographically diverse wave of travellers led by Asian visitors. Briefly, service organizations need to re-think: how they identify significant shifts in customer profile, the limits of their current service systems, decisions on service integration versus separation, how to transcend the traditional 5 Ps of services and, not least, how to prioritize humanism over efficiency in terms of service manpower training and development. Research limitations/implications – Though not exhaustive, the service management issues summarized and highlighted by this paper (and comprising this theme issue of WHATT) should serve to amplify the need to address the significant and enduring changes brought by the new wave of Asian travellers now enveloping services organizations throughout the world. Originality/value – The paper serves to identify several areas for service organizations to review and re-think which includes, among others, service interactions between front line service providers and customers, the evolving needs of visitors from Asia, how Asian customers perceive concepts of courtesy and politeness, as well as the use of language and culture in shaping and interpreting socio-cultural interactions in a service setting.

Asylum seekers and refugees in Northern Ireland: the impact of post-migration stressors on mental health

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
F. Murphy ◽  
U. M. Vieten
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Asylum Seekers And Refugees

Abstract Objectives: In recent years, Northern Ireland has seen an increase in the numbers of asylum seekers and refugees. Given its status as a post-conflict region, this is a relatively new phenomenon for the area. Northern Ireland is also the only part of the United Kingdom (UK) without a refugee integration strategy. In 2016, we conducted an extensive study for the racial equality unit of the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister in Stormont on the everyday life experience of asylum seekers and refugees in Northern Ireland with view to understanding how service delivery and notions of integration/inclusion impact. Methods: This was a mixed methods study using quantitative survey methods and in-depth semi-structured interviews with service providers, asylum seekers, refugees and new UK citizens. We examined a range of service provision such as education, labour, legal provision, housing and health. Results: This article examines the issue of mental health with respect to asylum seekers and refugees in Northern Ireland. The results delineate how asylum seekers and refugee’s mental health is dramatically impacted by the asylum system in Northern Ireland (and hence, the UK) and the dearth thereof, of particular and necessary supports and access issues in the space of health and mental health in Northern Ireland. We describe how post-migration stressors experienced through the UK asylum system further compound mental health issues. The findings provide a focus on the asylum system, housing and employment. Conclusions: Our research found a dearth of mental health supports in Northern Ireland and concluded that the asylum system in the UK (as a form of post-migration stressor) further exacerbates and contributes to poor mental health and well-being for many asylum seekers and refugees.

scholarly journals Mental health services for asylum seekers and refugees: a snapshot

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 29-30
Author(s):  
Katy Briffa
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Political Dimension ◽  
Health Agencies ◽  
Competing Demands ◽  
The Face ◽  
Asylum Seekers And Refugees

As fellow human beings uproot their lives in search of protection, and for those who survive to reach European shores, many countries are faced with an unprecedented, highly complex challenge of managing huge and immediate need. Clearly, immigration agencies are front line in this scenario, but they are closely followed by accommodation, subsistence, community and health agencies. It is widely recognised that the mental health burden of asylum seekers is large and the stir of growing interest at a clinical level in addressing that burden is encouraging. Mental health services have been aware of asylum seekers and refugees for decades but we have grappled with our role, been confused by the relevance of a political dimension and overwhelmed with how to manage diverse need, in the face of endless competing demands. Mental health services for asylum seekers and refugees have largely evolved in many and varied ways, dependent on local need and interest.

scholarly journals The value and meaning of a community drop-in service for asylum seekers and refugees

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-45
Author(s):  
Hannah Catherine Spring ◽  
Fiona Katherine Howlett ◽  
Claire Connor ◽  
Ashton Alderson ◽  
Joe Antcliff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers ◽  
Asylum Seekers And Refugees

Purpose Asylum seekers and refugees experience substantial barriers to successful transition to a new society. The purpose of this paper is to explore the value and meaning of a community drop-in service offering social support for refugees and asylum seekers in the northeast of England and to identify the occupational preferences of the service users. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews was conducted with refugees and asylum seekers using a community drop-in service. In total, 18 people participated from ten countries. Data were analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. Findings The value and meaning of the service was expressed through four key areas: the need to experience a sense of community; being able to make an altruistic contribution within the community; the need for societal integration; and having the opportunity to engage in meaningful and productive occupations. Practical implications Community and altruism have profound cultural meaning for asylum seekers and refugees and the need to integrate, belong and contribute is paramount to successful resettlement. Community-based drop-in services can aid this at deep, culturally relevant levels. This study may inform policy and practice development, future service development and highlight potential opportunities for health and social care services provision amongst this growing population. Originality/value To date there are no studies that provide empirical evidence on how community-based drop-in services for refugees and asylum seekers are received. This study provides a cultural insight into the deeper value and meaning of such services, and is particularly relevant for professionals in all sectors who are working with asylum seekers and refugees.

Towards culturally inclusive mental health: learning from focus groups with those with refugee and asylum seeker status in Plymouth

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 361-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Fish ◽  
Olivia Fakoussa
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Asylum Seeker ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cultural Backgrounds ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Asylum Seekers And Refugees

Purpose Pre- and post-immigration trauma and stress make refugees a particularly vulnerable group in terms of mental health and well-being. The purpose of this paper is to describe a listening project undertaken in Plymouth, UK, which sought the views of 17 service users (n=12) and staff (n=5) from four local support organisations, for people with refugee and asylum seeker status and those with diverse cultural backgrounds. Aims of the project were to expand Western-centric understandings regarding beneficial support and the promotion of good mental health and well-being in this population. Design/methodology/approach Responses were subjected to thematic analysis, co-conducted with a service user. Participants were asked about their personal understandings of mental health and well-being and what supports or hinders well-being. Findings The findings enabled the development of a model incorporating 10 threads which support and 9 holes that can hinder well-being. Research limitations/implications The relatively small numbers of participants compared with the numbers of asylum seekers and refugees in Plymouth may not be fully representative of the general population in Plymouth and the UK. Originality/value Despite increasing cultural diversity within the UK population, available mental health services exist mainly as developed from a Western psychological model of mental distress and treatment. This research provides services with a more informed understanding of mental health for asylum seekers and refugees. As such it is of value towards future service design in Plymouth and the UK. Findings also contributed to a successful funding bid to set up a peer-led support project in the city.

Supporting asylum seekers and refugees who suffer chronic pain: an experience

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreia Negron
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Soft Tissue ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers ◽  
And Training ◽  
Asylum Seekers And Refugees

Purpose Refugees and asylum seekers often present complex health needs, including chronic pain, related to traumatic experiences. To help them manage their pain, the Wellbeing and Self-Care Service provides health advice, pain education, soft tissue manual therapies and training in self-help techniques. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach A 0-10 pain scale (0= no pain, 10= very severe pain) is used to record reported intensity of pain before and after treatment. Change is analysed by comparing the position of a tick on the scale before and after therapy. In follow-up appointments, attendees were asked whether they were practicing self-help techniques; if they experienced improvement, and if so, how long it lasted; and whether they had reduced the use of painkillers. Findings From April 2014 to March 2015, 192 people were seen in 524 therapeutic encounters (63 per cent females, 37 per cent males). In total, 173 (90 per cent) were asylum seekers and refugees. Of the refugees and asylum seekers, 40 per cent were torture survivors. After treatment, 53 per cent of the 192 people treated showed a major reduction of pain, and 39 per cent a moderate reduction. In follow-up encounters, 87 per cent reported improvement (⩾2 weeks, 46 per cent), 70 per cent reported a reduction in the use of painkillers and 83 per cent reported that they practiced self-help techniques to different degrees. Originality/value Soft tissue manual therapies combined with education and training that emphasise communication and active patient participation in the healing process are non-invasive therapeutic approaches that can confer temporary relief to refugees and asylum seekers suffering chronic pain.

Politics of Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Turkey: Limits and Prospects of Populism

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatih Resul Kılınç ◽  
Şule Toktaş
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
Syrian Civil War ◽  
Turkish Politics ◽  
Right Wing Populism ◽  
Mass Influx ◽  
Asylum Seekers And Refugees ◽  
The Eu

This article addresses the international movement of asylum seekers and refugees, particularly Syrian immigrants, and their impact on populism in Turkish politics between 2011 and 2018. The article argues that populist politics/rhetoric directed against Syrians in Turkey remained limited during this period, especially from a comparative perspective. At a time when rising Islamophobia, extreme nationalism, and anti-immigrant sentiments led to rise of right-wing populism in Europe, populist platforms exploiting specifically migrants, asylum seekers, and the Syrians in Turkey failed to achieve a similar effect. The chapter identifies two reasons for this puzzling development even as the outbreak of the Syrian civil war triggered a mass influx of asylum seekers and irregular immigrants into Turkey. First, the article focuses on Turkey’s refugee deal with the EU in response to “Europe’s refugee crisis,” through which Turkey has extracted political and economic leverage. Next, the article sheds light on Turkey’s foreign policy making instruments that evolved around using the refugee situation as an instrument of soft power pursuant to its foreign policy identity. The article concludes with a discussion of the rise of anti-Syrian sentiments by 2019.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document