Inconsistencies in the self‐report of traumatic experiences by unaccompanied refugee minors

Spinhoven, Philip; Bean, Tammy; Eurelings-Bontekoe, Liesbeth

doi:10.1002/jts.20152

Cited by 31 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…; Spinhoven et al . ). If this phenomenon occurs and asylum seekers’ claims for protection are rejected, it leads to a worsening decline in mental health (Sundram & Lo ) whereby the person feels trapped by their circumstances (Procter ).…”

Section: Designmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Lethal hopelessness: Understanding and responding to asylum seeker distress and mental deterioration

Procter

Kenny

Eaton

et al. 2017

Int J Mental Health Nurs

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The mental deterioration of the so called ‘legacy caseload’ (asylum seekers who arrived in Australia by boat between August 2012–December 2013) has become a national concern and is garnering international attention. Prolonged uncertainty is contributing to mental deterioration and despair. There have been at least 11 deaths by suicide since June 2014. Social support services have been limited and legal assistance in short supply; this is associated with lengthy delays with visa applications. Thwarted belongingness, purpose and identity, a shortage of available services, and barriers to legal support for processes attendant upon Refugee Status Determination increase the likelihood that the mental health of asylum seekers will deteriorate further, potentially developing into worsening decline, which will lead to increased self‐harm and suicide. This article summarises recent suicide deaths in Australia, positing practical assistance and support for asylum seekers living in the community. Therapeutic engagement should be trauma‐informed wherever possible, helping asylum seekers to reframe their sense of lethal hopelessness.

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Section: Designmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…; Spinhoven et al . ). Stigma and fear of being seen as a perpetual outlander , or simply frightened by what such a disclosure might lead to, are possible reasons for holding back (Ellis et al .…”

Section: Designmentioning

confidence: 97%

Lethal hopelessness: Understanding and responding to asylum seeker distress and mental deterioration

Procter

Kenny

Eaton

et al. 2017

Int J Mental Health Nurs

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“…Many traumatized people suffer from PTSD (119), and a basic feature of PTSD is trauma-related memory disturbances which, for instance, can be manifested in intrusive memories (reactions of re-experience), nightmares and the inability to recall important parts of the traumatic event. It may be possible for the victims to recall the major themes but not the precise details of the events, and their stories may change during repeated interviews, a tendency that has been observed among unaccompanied asylumseeking children as well (120). Such a reaction may actually support rather than discount the credibility of the torture survivorÕs story (121)(122)(123), but inconsistencies between information given at different times during an asylum case will tend to be taken as an indication that there are no grounds for the claim for asylum (124)(125)(126).…”

Section: Determinants Of Receiving a Residence Permit In Denmarkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trauma, exile and mental health in young refugees

Montgomery¹

2011

Acta Psychiatr Scand

172

112

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Montgomery E. Trauma, exile and mental health in young refugees.Objective: To review evidence of trauma and exile‐related mental health in young refugees from the Middle East.Method: A review of four empirical studies: i) a qualitative study of 11 children from torture surviving families, ii) a cohort study of 311 3–15‐year‐old asylum‐seeking children, iii) a qualitative study of 14 members of torture surviving families and iv) a follow‐up study of 131 11–23‐year‐old refugees.Results: The reactions of the children were not necessarily post‐traumatic stress disorder specific. Seventy‐seven per cent suffered from anxiety, sleep disturbance and/or depressed mood at arrival. Sleep disturbance (prevalence 34%) was primarily predicted by a family history of violence. At follow‐up, 25.9% suffered from clinically relevant psychological symptoms. Traumatic experiences before arrival and stressful events in exile predicted internalizing behaviour, witnessing violence and frequent school changes in exile predicted externalizing behaviour. School participation, Danish friends, language proficiency and mother’s education predicted less long‐term psychological problems.Conclusion: Psychological problems are frequent in refugee children, but the extents are reduced over time in exile. Traumatic experience before arrival is most important for the short‐term reaction of the children while aspects of life in exile are important for the children’s ability to recover from early traumatization.

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“…In other countries too, children may be asked about their experiences at a very young age. In the Netherlands for example, children over four years old are routinely interviewed (Spinhoven et al. 2006).…”

Section: The Asylum Interviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The difficulties in gathering information from children are well documented (Lamb and Fauchier 2001; Kohli 2005; Spinhoven et al. 2006; Goodman and Quas 2008; Keselman et al.…”

Section: The Asylum Interviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘No one gives you a chance to say what you are thinking’: finding space for children's agency in the UK asylum system

Crawley

2010

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Drawing on research undertaken with separated children seeking asylum in the UK, this paper explores the ways in which children's political identities and experiences have been conceptualised in procedures for determining who is -and is not -in need of protection under international refugee law. The paper focuses in particular on the experiences of separated children during the asylum interview. It is suggested that the conduct of the interview not only indicates a basic lack of humanity and care in engaging with the experiences of separated asylum-seeking children, but also a particular conceptualisation of 'childhood' that undermines the ability of children to fully articulate their experiences and to secure access to the protection to which they are entitled. The consequence of this approach is not only that separated asylum-seeking children are significantly less likely than adults to be granted refugee status, but that children who express political views and agency may not be considered to be children at all.

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Inconsistencies in the self‐report of traumatic experiences by unaccompanied refugee minors

Cited by 31 publications

References 17 publications

Lethal hopelessness: Understanding and responding to asylum seeker distress and mental deterioration

Lethal hopelessness: Understanding and responding to asylum seeker distress and mental deterioration

Trauma, exile and mental health in young refugees

‘No one gives you a chance to say what you are thinking’: finding space for children's agency in the UK asylum system

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