{"id":47455,"date":"2018-12-13T23:58:39","date_gmt":"2018-12-13T23:58:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jomec.co.uk\/altcardiff\/?p=47455"},"modified":"2018-12-13T23:58:39","modified_gmt":"2018-12-13T23:58:39","slug":"inpoverty-mental-health-aftercare-for-female-refugees-in-the-welsh-capital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2018\/12\/13\/inpoverty-mental-health-aftercare-for-female-refugees-in-the-welsh-capital\/","title":{"rendered":"#InPoverty: Mental health aftercare for female refugees in the Welsh capital"},"content":{"rendered":"

UK asylum seekers are more likely to suffer poor mental health than the general public. Are Welsh charities helping female refugees?<\/span><\/h2>\n

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A British woman that is a victim of domestic abuse visits their local GP and often leaves with an offer of counselling and legal protection. However, a female refugee or asylum seeker who has been a victim of trafficking or female Genital Mutilation suffers in silence, most likely because they can\u2019t communicate through the language barrier. <\/span><\/p>\n

Circumstances like this will cause long-term psychological damage to those under refugee or asylum-seeking status in Wales. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Research<\/span><\/a> by The Mental Health Foundation confirms that asylum seekers in the UK are five times more likely to experience poor mental health than the general population, and more than 61% will experience serious mental distress. However, the data also shows that refugees are statistically less likely to receive support than the general population.<\/span><\/p>\n

Further research by The Welsh Refugee Council <\/span>explains<\/span><\/a> that Great Britain has just 1% of the world’s refugees, with Wales home to around 8% of the UK’s allocation. <\/span><\/p>\n

But what exactly is South Wales doing to assist refugee women suffering from psychological damage caused by displacement and circumstantial poverty?<\/span><\/p>\n

Turning to Charity<\/b><\/h4>\n

Oasis, based in Splott, offer help to female refugees and asylum seekers. <\/span><\/h4>\n

Tess Seymour, marketing and communications officer at Oasis says, \u201cA lot of women find it intimidating when they come in, they may have trauma from violence or trafficking, this is why we have women-only sessions.<\/span><\/h4>\n

\u201cWe have a regular female hairdresser in a separate room so women can take off their head scarfs in privacy. A beautician also attends the sessions to do manicures. This is about women getting together, without language barriers,\u201d she explains.<\/span><\/h4>\n
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\u201cWe are unable to offer services specifically for mental health, due to training and funding\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Oasis offers the women basic cosmetic<\/a> and physical services most people take for granted. <\/span><\/p>\n

Tess explains, \u201cWe have a wardrobe with free clothes to people who need them. We also have loads of sanitary towels and feminine products for those who are experiencing the effects of poverty.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

However, when asked about what support is in place for female refugees below the surface level, Tess confirms, \u201cWhen it comes to psychological aftercare I don\u2019t think there is a lot out there. We are unable to offer services specifically for mental health, due to training and funding.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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This reinforces that the issue of mental health for refugees and asylum seekers is not being addressed because of poverty in the system, a lack of resources, training and funding.<\/span><\/p>\n

The team at Oasis offer a variety of services that help refugees and asylum seekers in Cardiff <\/span><\/p>\n

Does the mind matter to Cardiff?<\/b><\/h4>\n

It is impossible to estimate the exact number of asylum seekers and refugees in South Wales because of the illegitimate and extreme means many go to to arrive in the UK.<\/span><\/h4>\n
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\u201cI am not aware of any psychological aftercare. The focus is that the basic needs are being met\u201d<\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Rajma Begum, national BME diversity officer at Wales Council for voluntary Action has a clear view of how institutional poverty is affecting the support available to female refugees and asylum seekers. She explains, \u201corganisations that support refugees are really stretched, so more support should be available and not just limited to those organisations.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, Rajma says, \u201cI am not aware of any psychological aftercare. The focus is that the basic needs are being met – food, shelter – and then refugees are left on their own. I feel it is really important to offer counselling to women who have witnessed trauma and horrifying events.”<\/span><\/p>\n