3.10 Key Points

Factors Impacting Asylum Seeker Mental Health & Wellbeing

Lack of Employment and Meaningful Activity

Asylum seekers come largely from countries where paid employment is their sole means of survival, so arriving in the UK to discover that they are prohibited from seeking work is a shock, dashing their expectations of using their qualifications, experience and skills to support themselves and their families.

In 2014, legislation was modified to allow asylum seekers to seek work if a decision on their case was not made within 12 months. Not only is it difficult to obtain, but the range of jobs for which they are eligible to apply is so restricted.

As some asylum seekers wait for up to 20 years before obtaining status, many will have become de-skilled in the process, making it even more difficult to integrate into British working life.

A further difficulty for the highly skilled is the lack of recognition by most UK institutions of any professional qualifications achieved in their countries of origin.‍

Having been active members of families, communities and in employment, this enforced isolation and inactivity can be soul destroying.