Asylum Seekers Health and Wellbeing Survey

Healthwatch Croydon carried out a survey with 5 respondents who identified as asylum seekers in 2023. Their main findings are as follows: 

• Their situation is causing stress, mental and physical health issues, low income and a sense of having little control on their lives 
• They use a range of resources to get information.
• Doctors, dentistry and pharmacy were the services most used.
• Language barriers caused the most barriers.
• Mental health services and accessing the GP were considered difficult to access.
• Asylum seekers are not always aware of what services they are entitled to.
• They need support with housing, control over own food sources so they can eat well, a job they pox can help themselves. 

Based on these findings, Healthwatch Croydon makes the following recommendations:

• More insight is needed as this is a small sample.
• Recognition that mental and physical stress around waiting in hostels affects mental and physical health. Stop gap accommodation is extended to twice as long as the latest time. It should be 12 months but some have been there 24 months – what can be done?
• Access to services particularly GP and dentistry need to be more widely accessible.
• There needs to be better communication and information of what is available in a language that can be understood by asylum seekers.
• Need for wider use of interpreting services with those trained in medical and social care areas.
• Institutionalised, lack of freedom and choice, creating/exacerbating mental health.
• Proactive solutions to help asylum seekers take control over the health and wellbeing such as suitable accommodation, access to healthy food, income and work.