UK asylum system and asylum seekers’ mental health

The motion for the debate is:

“That this House has considered the UK asylum system and asylum seekers’ mental health.”

Aspects of UK asylum policy and practice have long been criticised by some asylum seekers and their advocates for having a harmful effect on their mental health and psychological wellbeing.

Common areas of concern include the quality of asylum decision-making and delays in processing cases; the restrictions on asylum seekers’ rights to work; the adequacy of asylum accommodation and financial support provisions; the use of hotels and former military barracks as contingency accommodation; the (in)effectiveness of policies to identify and provide for adults at risk, victims of trafficking, unaccompanied minors and other vulnerable cases; and the use of immigration detention and lack of a statutory time limit.