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Previous research has described the unique time perceptions of refugees. These have consequences for many areas of their lives: Perception of time should be expressed in the use of time, and ultimately affect the integration of refugees. The present study systematically explores this link between refugees' time perceptions and their manifestation in patterns of time use. Data from semi-structured interviews with 18 young Syrian and Afghan refugees in Germany and five Germans with migration background were used. Results show that refugees' time perceptions varied according to their ability to assimilate to the host country's temporal rhythm, as well as their perception of being in control of their lives. The analysis of time use showed two groups of respondents who invested a lot of time in structured activities (employment, education) and one group of those who did not. Respondents who mostly invested time in structured activities were likely to have time perceptions characterised by either assimilation to the host country rhythm or by the attempt to navigate both home and host country rhythm at the same time, while enjoying the freedom of engagement in activities that would not be available in the home country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change, political turmoil, and economic instability worldwide suggest that managing migration surges will be a permanent challenge for many economies. In response to the record arrival of unaccompanied migrant children at the southern border, the Biden administration used surge facilities to expedite the processing of children. We assess the effectiveness of this strategy and document reductions in the time children spent under government custody. A counterfactual analysis reveals that, in their absence, the average time to reunification would have risen from 37 to 50 days. Migration surges involving unaccompanied children underscore the urgency of identifying efficient and humanitarian strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The health of refugees has been widely documented, as has the impact of a range of factors throughout the migration journey from being exposed to violence to the impacts of immigration detention. This study adds to our understanding of health-related quality of life amongst refugees and asylum seekers by evaluating health-related quality of life as measured by the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey using meta-analysis. The aims of this study were to (1) provide a summary and overview of health-related quality of life (as measured by the SF-36), including the extent to which this varies and (2) explore the factors that influence health-related quality of life (as measured by the SF-36) amongst refugees and asylum seekers. A search was undertaken of MEDLINE, CINAHL, PSYCINFO and SCOPUS, returning 3965 results. Papers were included if they sampled refugees (or asylum seeker or those with refugee-like experiences) and used the SF-36 (or its variants) as an outcome measure. Mean scores and standard deviations were pooled using a random effects model. The pooled sample size was 18,418. The pooled mean scores for the SF-36 physical summary measures was 54.99 (95% CI 46.01–63.99), while the mental health summary measure was 52.39 (95% CI 43.35–61.43). The pooled mean scores for each of the sub-scales ranged from 49.6 (vitality) to 65.54 (physical functioning). High heterogeneity was found between both summary measures and all sub-scales. In comparison to SF-36 results from general populations in high and middle income countries, these results suggest that refugee quality of life is generally poorer. However, this varied substantially between studies. One issue that is not well clarified by this review are the factors that contributed to health-related quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dissociative subtype of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD-DS) denotes a severe type of PTSD associated with complex trauma exposure and psychiatric comorbidity. Refugees may be at heightened risk of developing PTSD-DS, but research is lacking. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine PTSD-DS and its demographic, trauma-related, and clinical correlates among a convenience sample of refugee patients over 18 years old who were diagnosed with PTSD according to DSM-5. PTSD-DS (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5), trauma exposure (Life Events Checklist for DSM-5) and general psychopathology (Brief Symptom Inventory) were assessed at intake. T-tests, chi-square tests, and logistical regression analysis were conducted. The final sample consisted of 552 participants (177 (32.1%) women; 375 (67.9%) men; average age 40.0 years (SD = 11.2)) who originated from 63 countries. Of those, 158 (28.6%) met criteria for PTSD-DS. Participants with PTSD-DS scored significantly higher on PTSD symptom severity (t(550)=-5.270, p < .001), number of traumatic event types (t(456)=-3.499, p < .001), and exposure to sexual assault (χ(1) = 6.471, p = .01) than those without PTSD-DS. The odds of having PTSD-DS increased by 14.1% with exposure to each additional traumatic event type (OR = 1.141, CI 0.033–1.260). In conclusion, around 29% of adult treatment-seeking refugees with PTSD met the criteria for PTSD-DS. Those exposed to multiple traumatic event types including sexual assault, regardless of sex, were especially at risk. Having PTSD-DS was associated with more severe PTSD. Prioritizing trauma-focused treatment for those with PTSD-DS is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We critically examine the lived experience of food insecurity among asylum seekers in England, adopting a framework of racialized governance to consider how experiences are situated within historical and political processes. We draw upon longitudinal interviews from January 2023-February 2024 with people, including asylum seekers, living on a low-income in the North and South of England. Food insecurity was unavoidable for asylum seekers subject to No Recourse to Public Funds; food charities did little to mitigate food insecurity and could be sites of racialized stigma. The racialization of food insecurity among asylum seekers was fuelled by a politics of “racialized governance” which gained cultural traction through media narratives and manifested in everyday interactions around food. Developing literature on food insecurity among asylum seekers through new empirical and theoretical insights, we show how food charities can be racialized spaces where “non-white” asylum seekers are responded to according to a differential humanity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australian foreign policy traditionally claims middle power and good international citizenship credentials, although it also resorts to unilateral actions due to its deep-rooted condition of ‘frightened country’. This article argues that the country's irregular migration governance embodies this tension, and thus seeks to shed light on this increasingly-neglected aspect of Australian external engagement. Following a theoretical understanding of Australian foreign policy, it investigates the country's irregular migration policies between 2000 and 2024. The article finds that there is a strong continuity in such policies irrespective of the type of government in power, supported by foreign policy bipartisanship, resulting in specific foreign policy tools to stem seaborne arrivals. These include military missions; territorial excisions from the migration zone; offshore processing and/or externalisation agreements with Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka; pushback manoeuvres, and at-sea processing of asylum claims. Inevitably, such measures complicate Australia's international status as they emphasise the uneasy coexistence of both the globalist middle power and the self-interested nation images in its foreign policy, therefore warranting new research on this under-examined condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In 2022 the total world migrant population was 281 million (an increase of approximately 62% compared to year 2000), of whom 169 million were migrant workers. The number of refugees, asylum seekers and others in need of international protection increased by 22% compared to 2021. Research has shown that the forcibly displaced have high rates of mental disorders (including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety), with an estimated prevalence almost 6 to 7 times higher than the general population. Given the increase of the overall migration phenomenon and the challenge raised by the cultural features concerning mental health, we consider that this is an area that requires close attention to ensure that culturally sensitive health services be available to the migrant and displaced population. Aims: The aim of this narrative review is to provide a background to the issue and take stock of what is currently available in the literature regarding culture-bound illnesses and the relevant diagnostic tools. Methods: A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Psychinfo, Embase, Google Scholar, organized in stages to assure inclusion of all the relevant studies. Of the 703 papers initially identified, only 30 papers finally satisfied the inclusion criteria. Results: Eleven diagnostic scales were found, only two of which are being used for displaced people. Conclusions: Further work is required in this field, including a debate as to whether scales are indeed an appropriate tool for use with this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, human displacement is at a record high. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 110 million people have been forcibly displaced worldwide owing to persecution, mass conflict, or human rights violations. Conflicts continue to rage in different parts of the world such as Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan, and Tigray. Large-scale political upheaval is also on the rise in many countries such as Haiti, Venezuela, and Iran. Natural disasters fueled by climate change will further contribute to large-scale forced migration. Persons with forced migration experiences (PFMEs) tend to have significant rehabilitation needs because of high risk of physical injuries, mental trauma, and exacerbation of pre-existing health problems during displacement. Rehabilitation practitioners in host countries must be well equipped to address the complex needs of this population. However, there is currently limited literature to guide best practice. In this article, a group of interdisciplinary professionals examine rehabilitation needs among PFMEs, provide examples of established and emerging rehabilitation interventions with PFMEs in the context of asylum and resettlement, identify barriers to accessing rehabilitation services in host countries, and propose avenues for professional advocacy in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In border areas, time and space are constantly suspended from the usual rules along a liminal pathway transforming status and identity. In order to understand how different regimes of mobility and reception influence the experience of time and the subjective actions of both asylum seekers arriving via the so-called Balkan route and Ukrainian refugees fleeing from the war, the paper puts forward an analysis of the multiple scales of migration and reception policies as historically situated practices. How and to what extent has the increasing role of the humanitarian regime contributed to improving or worsening the lives of asylum seekers in borderland places where the memory of wars, civil conflicts, and experiences of refoulement is very much alive? Building on a multilocal ethnography of the temporalities of migrants' reception, the paper aims at disentangling the historical layers of hospitality in the northeastern Italian border areas of Trieste and Bolzano and the intersecting forms of (im)mobility at play. By addressing "reception" as an entanglement of spatial and temporal practices carried out by migrants, institutional, and humanitarian actors, we discuss not only how time reduces the existence of asylum seekers and Ukrainian refugees to an empty and meaningless human condition by exerting control over the subjective experiences, but also how the migrants' experience of waiting translates into an active state of being with the creative potential to trigger new forms of sociality, solidarity, and senses of belonging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discourses underpinning UK policies such as Fundamental British Values and the Hostile Environment draw justification from framing asylum seekers as threats to western civilizational values and the British way of life. In this article, I examine Write to Life's play Souvenirs as a remarkable example of ethically informed theatre with a conceptually refined understanding of the practicalities of civilization. Using Elaine Scarry's theorization of the sheltering room as vital facilitator of civilization, the article explores how this testimonial play intervenes in mainstream discourses that work to hamper the two-way exchange that Kelly Oliver identifies as the foundational witnessing structure of subjectivity. I argue that this framework for interpretation highlights Souvenirs's framing concepts of the garden and the souvenir scar as illustrating collective possibilities for co-creating civilization based on negotiation rather than enforced legibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women constitute over half of the global refugee population, yet they are underrepresented among asylum-seeker applicants in Europe. In this study, we analyse asylum application decisions in Italy between 2008 and 2022 using Eurostat data and a comprehensive set of indicators to assess political conditions and gender discrimination in the applicants' countries of origin. Our analysis unveils a limited 'female advantage' in asylum applications, revealing a complex relationship between gender, country of origin characteristics, and the asylum decision process. Interestingly, the observed advantage for women is contingent on the applicant's country of origin. In countries marked by war, autocracy, or severe discrimination towards women, the gender of the applicants does not significantly correlate with asylum decisions, as recognition rates are high for both men and women. Conversely, women from countries with moderate political and discrimination issues have higher chances of success than men in their asylum applications. The understanding of how gender intersects with other factors in asylum decisions is imperative for developing more equitable asylum policies and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Method Results Discussion A record of 122.6 million people have sought refuge and asylum across the globe in 2024, exacerbated by emergencies in Ukraine, Sudan, Afghanistan and by the Israel–Hamas war. This number is set to rise to over 130 million people in refugee situations in 59 countries this year alone. With refugees suffering from higher rates of mental health difficulties than the general population, there is an urgent need to provide an expedient, socially just, transculturally informed pathway into humanistic psychological care services for these individuals. The objectives of this study were to explore how therapeutic practitioners are working effectively with displaced individuals presenting with embodied trauma, their experiences of transcultural approaches to therapeutic work and the impact of working alongside psychopharmacological medications in this commonly overprescribed client group.A qualitative semi‐structured interview was operationalised with 12 therapeutic practitioners who have worked with displaced individuals, utilising reflexive thematic analysis of the data.Findings highlight a critical need for an updated transculturally informed, humanistic, person‐centred pathway of care for each displaced individual.This study offers facilitators and challenges to using a humanistic, transculturally updated assessment, formulation, treatment plan, and routine outcome measures for embodied trauma. It also considers the importance of working with a client's cultural context of origin, language, universally understood emotions, cultural strengths, preferences for therapy and use of a psychopharmacological review within a holistic constellation of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to understand more about the consequences that living for many years without a residence permit in Norway can have for asylum seekers. As a narrative inquiry study, the research puzzle is asylum seekers in Norway without a resident permit. This article focuses on one family. The data material is collected with different methods, such as field talks, interviews, pictures, and messages on Messenger. The study uses narrative position analysis, and it analyses the narrated story on three different levels. The main results shows that the parents of the family tend to position themselves differently according to whether they are talking about the time before they fled, the time while fleeing or after the fled. When talking about the decision to flee, they present themselves as active subjects with high agency. They have the ability to take active decisions and play an essential role for the family's life. The analyses reveal three different master narratives; being a parent, being a citizen of a community and being an asylum seeker. I conclude with thoughts about the waiting period as an asylum seeker, and I ask whether Norway respects and ensures human rights. Is the situation of long-term asylum seekers and the condition of the waiting period in different reception centers a form of national abuse of power? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior research has highlighted important healthcare access and utilization issues among new forced immigrants. We aimed to explore the role that public and patient involvement (PPI) might play in enhancing accessibility and specific contributions to migration health studies. We conducted open and in-depth interactive virtual discussions with asylum seekers and refugees from Eritrea and Syria in Switzerland. The PPI establishment consisted of three phases: inception, training and contribution. Prior to training, the concept of PPI was not straightforward to grasp, as it was a new approach—however, after training and consecutive discussions, participants were ardent to engage actively. We conclude that PPI holds promise in regard to raising awareness, improving healthcare system accessibilities and utilization, and enhancing and strengthening migration health research. Indeed, PPI volunteers were keen to raise their community's awareness through their networks and bridge an important gap between researchers and the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused massive disruptions globally, with food insecurity a primary concern amongst vulnerable communities. As one of the most marginalized and vulnerable groups in Israeli society asylum seekers and undocumented populations were amongst the first to be affected by the pandemic and the economic crisis that followed. The objective of the study was to evaluate the severity and causes of food insecurity among asylum seekers and other undocumented communities because of COVID-19. Methods: A multi method approach was used. The quantitative component included an online questionnaire regarding access to food, aid and choices, and the 6 item Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM) The qualitative component included 4 focus groups and thematic analysis. The study was conducted in November 2020, by the Ministry of Health's Nutrition Division and the Tel Aviv Municipality's foreign community assistance and information center (Mesila). The convenience sample was drawn from the low-income neighborhood population of South Tel Aviv. Logistic regression, multivariate analysis and content analysis, were performed. Results: Four hundred eighty-five people completed the quantitative survey, with average age 33.2 ± 5.4 years and 349 (72.0%) experienced food insecurity. In the multivariate analysis, being older (p = 0.04, Odds Ratio OR 1.1, Confidence Interval CI 1.05–1.15) and being single (unmarried) (p = 0.03, OR 2.1, CI 1.2, 3.5) predicted food insecurity. Qualitative findings identified three main themes: children preferring Israeli/ Western foods to traditional foods; financial stresses were compounded; a preference for receiving assistance with purchasing food (vouchers), rather than food handouts. Conclusion: In conclusion, vulnerable populations (asylum seekers and other undocumented communities) were severely affected and are in danger of food insecurity. Culturally relevant and contextualized solutions are needed to address the acute hunger within the community. These include establishment of a cross-ministerial forum, a social grocery store, increased liaison with food rescue bodies, complete nutritional support for children in educational settings and increased guidance regarding food choices and budgeting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to provide a critical analysis of the current literature on the use of digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) for the management and treatment of mental health disorders among refugees and asylum seekers. These groups are among the most disadvantaged compared to the general population in terms of health and socio‐economic status, due to conflicts and wars. The number of refugees fleeing their home countries is growing exponentially, and refugees experience trauma, torture, persecution and human right abuses, which have a profound effect on their mental health and overall well‐being. The researchers conducted an integrative literature review from electronic databases Medline, CINAHL and Google Scholar, selecting articles published in English from 2010 to 2023. The thematic analysis of the 10 articles identified in the review revealed four main themes and two sub‐themes: (1) types of digital health intervention/apps used; (2) barriers encountered in digital health intervention; (3) user experience of the digital health intervention and (4) mapping gaps. Two sub‐themes were identified located in Theme 2: (2.1) Language and demographic barriers and (2.2) Structural barriers. The study showed that the use of DMHIs was associated with positive experiences among refugees and asylum seekers. Limited mental health care is offered to refugees and asylum seekers due to a range of logistical, political, economic, geographical, language, cultural and social barriers. DMHIs have the potential to overcome and/or moderate these barriers. The study concludes that the scaled implementation of effective DMHIs holds the possibility to improve the wider distribution of mental health care among refugees and asylum seekers. However, further research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of DMHIs and to scale up studies for their utilisation among this group. In summary, this study highlights the potential of DMHIs in improving the mental health care of refugees and asylum seekers. The results of this study have important implications for mental health service providers, policymakers and researchers to address the mental health needs of this vulnerable/priority group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To catch a representative view of a multicultural population's needs. Design: Qualitative study. Methods: Semi‐structured interviews were conducted from July 2022 to January 2023 with the project's stakeholders, migrants, and residents. Data analysis was performed using a multimethod textual analysis technique. Findings: Territorial barriers, lack of social network, and specific professionals' training emerged as healthcare delivery obstacles. For migrants, language improvement emerged as a health priority. A deep relationship with migrants emerged as a deficiency for residents. Conclusion: A welcoming project equipped with solid leadership and the right resources can be fundamental in mediating health promotion and integration. In this process, the involvement of the resident population is essential. Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care: Analysing the migrants' needs and the strengths and limitations of a reception system could help identify the challenges for professionals in delivering culturally competent care. In this context, the nurse's role becomes relevant, being responsible for taking charge and caring for the population and the link between professionals and the population. What Problem Did the Study Address?: The study addressed the problem of improving the overall health of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, mainly focusing on reception and integration into a new society process. What Were the Main Findings?: Worse health was identified with adaptation, integration, and family problems. Territorial barriers emerged, hindering good health. Where and on Whom Will the Research Have An Impact?: These research findings can be valuable for health professionals who want to improve the reception process and enhance a care model integrated with residents. Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution. Reporting Method: To describe the research report, we referred to the COREQ checklist (Tong et al., 2007). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to explore health professionals' descriptions and interpretations of post-migration mental health and societal challenges among forced migrants with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions. Participants representing seven professions were recruited by a combination of convenience, purposive and snowball sampling. Data were collected through focus groups and individual interviews, analysed with systematic text condensation in a collaborative process involving researchers, clinicians and migrants with lived experiences. Participants described a challenging trajectory for migrants, as migrants venture through an uncertain and demanding journey impacting their mental health. Needing to deal with legal requirements, stressful circumstances and normative expectations during the asylum process were highlighted as major challenges, along with exposure to discrimination, violence, abuse and lack of psychosocial safety. Participants described significant psychological distress among migrants, including loneliness and shame. Challenges were also recognised related to exploring, accepting and expressing sexuality and gender. Loneliness and shame are major challenges in need of further attention in research, which could be addressed through the development and evaluation of actions, programmes and interventions to provide peer support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Women constitute over half of the global refugee population, yet they are underrepresented among asylum-seeker applicants in Europe. In this study, we analyse asylum application decisions in Italy between 2008 and 2022 using Eurostat data and a comprehensive set of indicators to assess political conditions and gender discrimination in the applicants’ countries of origin. Our analysis unveils a limited ‘female advantage’ in asylum applications, revealing a complex relationship between gender, country of origin characteristics, and the asylum decision process. Interestingly, the observed advantage for women is contingent on the applicant's country of origin. In countries marked by war, autocracy, or severe discrimination towards women, the gender of the applicants does not significantly correlate with asylum decisions, as recognition rates are high for both men and women. Conversely, women from countries with moderate political and discrimination issues have higher chances of success than men in their asylum applications. The understanding of how gender intersects with other factors in asylum decisions is imperative for developing more equitable asylum policies and practices.

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic caused massive disruptions globally, with food insecurity a primary concern amongst vulnerable communities. As one of the most marginalized and vulnerable groups in Israeli society asylum seekers and undocumented populations were amongst the first to be affected by the pandemic and the economic crisis that followed. The objective of the study was to evaluate the severity and causes of food insecurity among asylum seekers and other undocumented communities because of COVID-19. Methods A multi method approach was used. The quantitative component included an online questionnaire regarding access to food, aid and choices, and the 6 item Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM) The qualitative component included 4 focus groups and thematic analysis. The study was conducted in November 2020, by the Ministry of Health's Nutrition Division and the Tel Aviv Municipality's foreign community assistance and information center (Mesila). The convenience sample was drawn from the low-income neighborhood population of South Tel Aviv. Logistic regression, multivariate analysis and content analysis, were performed. Results Four hundred eighty-five people completed the quantitative survey, with average age 33.2 ± 5.4 years and 349 (72.0%) experienced food insecurity. In the multivariate analysis, being older (p = 0.04, Odds Ratio OR 1.1, Confidence Interval CI 1.05–1.15) and being single (unmarried) (p = 0.03, OR 2.1, CI 1.2, 3.5) predicted food insecurity. Qualitative findings identified three main themes: children preferring Israeli/ Western foods to traditional foods; financial stresses were compounded; a preference for receiving assistance with purchasing food (vouchers), rather than food handouts. Conclusion In conclusion, vulnerable populations (asylum seekers and other undocumented communities) were severely affected and are in danger of food insecurity. Culturally relevant and contextualized solutions are needed to address the acute hunger within the community. These include establishment of a cross-ministerial forum, a social grocery store, increased liaison with food rescue bodies, complete nutritional support for children in educational settings and increased guidance regarding food choices and budgeting.

Migration, considered a ‘total social fact’, remains one of the most debated topics in contemporary society. Unfortunately, migration is not always a positive experience for everyone. Certain categories of people, such as women, children, persecuted ethnic minorities, and those fleeing conflict zones, widespread violence and natural disasters, are undoubtedly more exposed to its adverse effects. The socially disadvantaged conditions of migrants can also overlap with the risk of exclusion from digital literacy. ‘Digital availability’ is an essential asset for networking through the entire period of migration, which varies according to the departure and destination contexts and skills of use. Vulnerability can be a key concept when it comes to exploring the connection between migration processes and increasing digitisation, with both positive and negative consequences. Despite the frequent use of the term ‘vulnerability’ in political and legal discourse, its normative content is neither always clear nor universally accepted. Often treated as a self-explanatory condition, it is habitually used to distinguish migrants according to specific groups based on precise characteristics – especially refugees or asylum seekers – without specifying how the notion is conceptually understood or defined. The aim of our work is to provide some suggestions about three different concepts of vulnerability (subjective, situational and structural), the impact of the legal concept of vulnerability on migration processes and how situations of vulnerability are sometimes accentuated by the spread of media and social media.

Changes in migratory flows have transformed Spain from a country of emigration to one of the main destinations for international migration. And it has also become one of the most important European countries in the reception of asylum seekers and refugees in the last decade. With an unprepared reception system, the State has faced this challenge by decentralising socio-labour integration responsibilities to third sector entities. This article aims to analyse the institutional approach to the management and integration of asylum seekers, studying changes in the management of the reception and integration system for this group. Through documentary analysis and descriptive statistics, we observe a greater streamlining of certain processes, particularly after the arrival of asylum seekers from Ukraine in 2022. However, structural deficiencies remain, hindering the processes of matching labour supply and demand.

This article draws together insights from trauma theory and the conversation in Psalms scholarship known as "Psalmenexegese und Psalterexegese" or as the question of "shape and shaping" to propose a reading of Pss 136–139 as a pathway to trauma healing. This sequence of psalms moves participants toward healing by preparing them for the work of trauma healing through a mantra-like focus (Ps 136), unleashing the full range of human stress-responses to trauma (Ps 137), directly answering each of these stress-responses (Ps 138), and then—in a dramatic resolution—characterizing God as intimately concerned with human biology and life while continuing to acknowledge ongoing experiences of pain and injustice (Ps 139). The article illustrates the proposed framework for trauma healing with examples from pastoral work with asylum-seekers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complementing the well-established evidence base on health inequalities experienced by migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in the UK; we examined the extent to which their right to equal non-discriminatory access to health services (promotive, preventive, curative) was upheld during the COVID-19 pandemic. Arksey and O′Malley's scoping review framework. A comprehensive search was conducted on Medline, PubMed, and CINAHL using detailed MESH terms, for literature published between 01 January 2020 and 01 January 2024. The process was supported by a ten-page Google search and hand searching of reference lists. 42 records meeting the inclusion criteria were charted, coded inductively and analysed thematically in an integrated team-based approach. Dissonance between immigration regulation and health governance is illustrated in four themes: Health systems leveraged to (re)enforce the hostile environment; Dissonance between health rights on paper and in practice; Structural failures to overcome communication and digital exclusion; and COVID-19 vaccine (in)equity exacerbated fear, mistrust and exclusion. Migrants, refugees and asylum seekers encountered substantial individual, structural and policy-level barriers to accessing healthcare in the UK during COVID-19. Insecure immigration status, institutional mistrust, data-sharing and charging fears, communication challenges and digital exclusion impacted heavily on their ability to access healthcare in an equitable non-discriminatory manner. An inclusive and innovative health equity and rights-based responses reaching all migrants, refugees and asylum seekers are warranted if the National Health Service is to live up to its promise of ' leaving no one behind' in post-pandemic and future responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerns with 'vulnerability' increasingly proliferate in global and regional pacts, international and domestic legislations, and policy discourses and practices regarding migration and international protection. Also in France, vulnerability governance has made its inroads, and policy documents hail vulnerability considerations as a strengthening of the politics of reception and integration of asylum seekers and a means to improve accommodation and care. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in Marseille, I argue that vulnerability governance, situated within the context of securitization of migration and budget constraints in the reception system, leads to a 'differential inclusion', which is partial, conditional and precarious. By examining the understanding and operationalization of vulnerability within French migration legislation, policies, and governance practices, the study exposes how normative constructs of gender and sexuality inform the identification and hierarchization of vulnerable persons. Ethnographic evidence illustrates how these norms are perpetuated by governance actors, including civil society, and sometimes strategically mobilized or internalized by asylum seekers in their quest for recognition and assistance. In conclusion, the article highlights how protection-seeking migrants also contest the authorities' understanding and operationalization of vulnerability. Through protests and legal actions, they expose the state's role in producing and differentially distributing vulnerability through abandonment and destitution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the multi-layered barriers asylum seekers face in accessing secure and adequate housing in a host society through the case of Catalonia (Spain). While the existing literature mainly focuses on the effects of micro-level factors, we argue that these need to be analysed in combination with meso-level actors and macro-structural phenomena. Drawing on an exploratory survey of 300 international protection applicants and 60 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders and asylum seekers, we analyse their exposure to different dimensions of housing precariousness. Our research finds that, although certain individual characteristics such as age, sex and origin remain relevant in explaining housing pathways, these factors are strongly mediated by the role of NGOs and support networks, and by the structural features of the asylum system and housing market. We conclude that the complex interactions of these factors result in deeply unstable and fragmented housing trajectories that contribute to high levels of disorientation, precariousness, and exclusion among those seeking accommodation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This study contributes to the ongoing efforts to address systemic inequality within social work by examining Canadian social workers' attitudes toward immigrants who are permanent residents (PR), refugees, temporary residents (TR), or undocumented immigrants. Using a cross-sectional design with a convenience sample (n = 653), we explore how social workers' attitudes toward immigrants vary in relation to (a) respondents' demographics, (b) contact with immigrants, (c) perceptions of equal opportunities among immigrants, (d) perceptions of deservingness for immigrants with different legal statuses, and (e) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these attitudes. Findings: While Canadian social workers generally express positive attitudes toward immigrants, there is a slightly stronger endorsement for PR and refugees to access public services compared to nonstatus (NS) immigrants and TR. Social workers who identify as conservative or have limited contact with immigrants are more likely to perceive NS immigrants as potential criminal threats or burdens on the healthcare system. Significantly, a majority of respondents feel that their social work training inadequately prepares them to work effectively with immigrants. Applications: Canadian social workers advocate for principles of diversity, inclusion, and commitment to social justice. However, perceptions regarding which immigrants deserve access to social services vary based on legal status, suggesting a limitation in social workers' professional mandate. The study discusses implications for social work education and training, emphasizing the need to address and unsettle systemic racism within the profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A majority of people from a refugee background endure cumulative traumatic experiences that are compounded by acculturative distress, which disrupts their systems of safety, support, sense of justice, and identity. Literature highlighting the impacts of consistently bearing witness to traumatic experiences and addressing the multiple needs of refugee survivors of trauma is limited. This integrative review is based on a systematic database and citation search in Scopus, PsycINFO, PTSDpubs and PubMed and identified four interrelated themes, as a sequel to refugee trauma work: Being challenged by refugee narratives, Altered beliefs and attitudes, Benefits or rewards, and Coping strategies. The review highlights that extant literature in the field of refugee trauma does not sufficiently capture unique, experiential complexities in the sector. It identifies the need for additional research with methodological rigor and a comprehensive theoretical framework to capture the varied vicarious impacts of working with refugee survivors of trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current immigration policies and problematic definitions are unfair to people seeking protection in the United States and elsewhere. Non-intersectional policies go against the work ethos of social workers. At the same time, without any federal support for asylum seekers and disparate state and city services, asylum seekers are denied fundamental human rights. Social workers are now pushed to work more closely with asylum seekers. They should thoroughly understand the structural issues around asylum policies and engage in policy advocacy to change outdated and unidimensional laws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migration, considered a ‘total social fact’, remains one of the most debated topics in contemporary society. Unfortunately, migration is not always a positive experience for everyone. Certain categories of people, such as women, children, persecuted ethnic minorities, and those fleeing conflict zones, widespread violence and natural disasters, are undoubtedly more exposed to its adverse effects. The socially disadvantaged conditions of migrants can also overlap with the risk of exclusion from digital literacy. ‘Digital availability’ is an essential asset for networking through the entire period of migration, which varies according to the departure and destination contexts and skills of use. Vulnerability can be a key concept when it comes to exploring the connection between migration processes and increasing digitisation, with both positive and negative consequences. Despite the frequent use of the term ‘vulnerability’ in political and legal discourse, its normative content is neither always clear nor universally accepted. Often treated as a self-explanatory condition, it is habitually used to distinguish migrants according to specific groups based on precise characteristics – especially refugees or asylum seekers – without specifying how the notion is conceptually understood or defined. The aim of our work is to provide some suggestions about three different concepts of vulnerability (subjective, situational and structural), the impact of the legal concept of vulnerability on migration processes and how situations of vulnerability are sometimes accentuated by the spread of media and social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The notion of the rural idyll is well recognised within scholarship. Allied to this imaginary is that rural areas comprise white and homogenous space, with socially conservative values that are exclusionary. In recent decades, studies have identified the arrival of migrants into so‐called New Immigration Destinations, rural spaces with little contemporary experience of immigration, often bringing with them a sense of cosmopolitanism. That research challenges discourses of a fully exclusive rural space, identifying acts of welcoming and hospitality. These acts are often performed in everyday spaces to help create a sense of belonging for new arrivals. Migrants’ sense of belonging to a place is often taken as an indicator of their integration into society. Research has shown that belonging is more than a term used to describe an attachment to place, it also relates to the politics (of belonging) and to notions of identity. We use the specificity of place to examine the intersection of belonging, rurality and ethnicity. Drawing on participatory walks with diverse migrants along Hadrian's Wall in the North of England (celebrating 1900‐year anniversary), we explore the significance of walking as a tool to engage with forced refugees. We do so through the dual perspectives of an art practitioner and a sociologist. The project included collective walks, creative artist lead learning workshops, which lead to a performative protest walk, and a public‐facing art exhibition. The act of walking together blurs boundaries arising from individual status or position, creating a bond from doing a shared activity enabling conversation and friendships to emerge. Through collective walking, we explore the barriers refugees and those in the asylum‐seeking system face in the rural space; and we show how belonging is emotional and relational. Emotional connections can become powerful tools for survival, especially in a cruel immigration system that dehumanises and fails to recognise individuals for who they really are. This is demonstrated in the title of this article ‘We are here our hearts are there’, which comes from one of our participants who deployed the phrase during the artistic performative protest along the Wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, I discuss the interplay between the formal and informal mobility rules regulating migration, asylum, and reception regimes in Italy. Engaging with the blurred grounds generated by mobility rules in practice, I argue that the (ir)regular functioning of bureaucracies of asylum and its gray zones created systemic injustice, while also accidentally fostering what I call a "relational mycelium" and support networks between the migrant and non-migrant population. The contribution dialogues with my former experience as reception worker and later as researcher with that of a group of Gambian asylum seekers to understand how subjectivities, goals, hopes, and desires were invested and reshaped through the asylum system, and by the relational networks developed in reception facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People seeking asylum are susceptible to head injury (HI) due to exposure to various forms of violence including war, torture, or interpersonal violence. Yet, the extents to which clinicians assess HI, and if so, what the associated characteristics are, are not well known. We analyzed 200 U.S.-based medico-legal affidavits using descriptive, multivariate regression, and thematic analysis. Head injury was documented in 38% of affidavits. Those who experienced physical violence were eight times likelier to experience HI than those who did not experience physical violence. Five themes emerged: (1) HI occurred commonly in the context of interpersonal violence (44%), followed by militarized violence (33%); (2) mechanisms of HI included direct blows to the head and asphyxiation, suggesting potential for both traumatic brain injury and brain injury from oxygen deprivation; (3) HI was often recurrent and concurrent with other physical injuries; (4) co-morbid psychiatric and post-concussive symptoms made it challenging to assess neurological and psychiatric etiologies; and (5) overall, there was a paucity of assessments and documentation of HI and sequelae. Among individuals assessed for asylum claims, HI is common, often recurrent, occurring in the context of interpersonal violence, and concurrent with psychological and other physical trauma. Physical violence is an important risk factor for HI, which should be assessed when physical violence is reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asylum seeker and refugee supporters work to provide services, legal advice, home visits; engage in advocacy; and protest the harsh immigration context that is associated with the Australian government. The passion supporters feel for the 'cause' burns bright, yet years and sometimes decades of support can take a personal toll. This article draws on ethnographic data collected between July 2019 and October 2020 in Adelaide, South Australia, with asylum seeker and refugee supporters. We argue that despite displaying many of the features classically associated with notions of burnout, supporters are more likely to 'burn down', rather than out. This is because the passion associated with the commitment to asylum seeker and refugee causes is hard to extinguish. We suggest that supporters suffer from 'passion fatigue,' yet through the mitigating practices of retreat and debriefing they can protect themselves from the worst forms of burnout and permanent disengagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the tactical changes made by the asylum seeker community in Hong Kong in negotiating local refugee assistance policies and practices. The analysis presented in this paper is grounded in my ethnographic fieldwork with an asylum seeker-led organization and supplemented by archival study and informal interviews. In recent years, the asylum seeker community has adopted a pragmatic approach to advocacy, increasingly asking the local community for support in providing humanitarian aid rather than calling for changes to the assistance system, a tactic that this group used in the past. I argue that these tactical changes cannot be separated from the social and political contexts of Hong Kong. The presence of stimulating events, particularly those involving local and global refugee and migrant communities, the space available for voicing dissent, and the level of institutional responsiveness, all affect how the asylum seeker community in Hong Kong participates in policy discussions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article captures a shift occurring at the peripheries of the Italian asylum system where, as reception infrastructures are progressively gutted, dismantled, and transformed into security apparatuses, local organizations refocus their efforts on helping refugees and asylum seekers carve out spaces of agency and autonomy in the time-space after institutional reception. I introduce the concept of "makeshift activism" to describe this relentless, creative patching together of solutions to support migrant emplacement beyond and – sometimes – against the confines of official programs. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in one of the world's first Covid-19 hotspots – Italy's Veneto region, I take the pandemic as a magnifying glass to expose the precarious nature of this activism but also its potential for prefiguring alternatives to the state's (non-existent) paths towards long-term inclusion. More broadly, I shift the anthropological gaze towards charting the afterlives and aftermaths of refugee "welcome" in less spectacular locales, such as mid-size cities and small municipalities in peripheral mountain regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the relationship between the defence spending of European NATO members and their exposure to asylum seekers. While research shows that threat perceptions and domestic politics partly determine the defence spending of a state, the effect of migration has so far not been studied. This is remarkable because migration is increasingly framed as a security threat, also by NATO and European Union member states. Using a panel analysis, this paper explores the relationship between the defence spending of 23 European NATO members and the number of asylum seekers they register each year between 2000 and 2020. Results show a positive and significant relationship between the number of asylum seekers registered in a country and its overall military expenditure relative to GDP, equipment spending, and infrastructure spending. These findings shed new light on the origins of defence spending in collective security alliances, at a time when transatlantic burden sharing is at the centre of societal and academic debates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Healthcare and support workers play a pivotal role in delivering quality services and support to people seeking sanctuary who have experienced poor physical and mental health linked to previous trauma, relocation and loss of freedoms. However, they often encounter various challenges in their daily work, ranging from communication barriers to resource constraints. This qualitative study seeks to delve into the perspectives of healthcare and support workers' experience of workarounds, employed to overcome barriers to providing care. Aim: This study aims to describe healthcare providers', practitioners' and health and third sector support workers' views on barriers and workarounds to providing care for people seeking sanctuary, to inform policy and practice. Design: A qualitative study was carried out using semi‐structured telephone interviews. Setting: This study focused on primary, secondary, community and specialist National Health Service (NHS) support services for people seeking sanctuary in Wales, United Kingdom (2018). Method: We interviewed 32 healthcare providers, practitioners and support workers employed by primary care and third sector organisations. Our approach involved obtaining verbal informed consent before digitally recording and transcribing all interviews. To analyse the data, we used the Four Levels of Change for Improving Quality model as a guiding framework for interpretation. Results: Our study findings reveal that certain respondents expressed challenges in meeting the needs of people seeking sanctuary; notably, their experience of delivering care differed by care settings. Specifically, those involved in providing specialist NHS care believed that there was room for improvement. Mainstream primary, secondary and community health practitioners faced limitations due to resource constraints and lacked tailored information to address the unique circumstances and needs of sanctuary seekers. To address these gaps, workarounds emerged at both individual and local levels (team/departmental and organisational level). These included establishing informal communication channels between providers, fostering cross service collaboration to fill gaps and adapting existing services to enhance accessibility. Conclusion: Understanding healthcare providers', practitioners' and support workers' perspectives offers invaluable insights into ways to enhance healthcare delivery to sanctuary seekers. Acknowledging challenges and harnessing innovative workarounds can foster a more effective and compassionate service for this vulnerable population. Patient or Public Contribution: The HEAR study actively involved public contributors in the design, delivery and dissemination of the research. Two public contributors (S. M. and G. R.) who had personal experience of seeking asylum served as study co‐applicants. They played pivotal roles in shaping the research by participating in its development and securing funding. Alongside other co‐applicants, S. M. and G. R. formed the Research Management Group, overseeing study delivery. Their contributions extended to strategic decision‐making and specific feedback at critical junctures, including participant recruitment, data collection, analysis and reporting. Additionally, S. M. and G. R. were instrumental in recruiting and supporting a team of peer researchers, enhancing respondent participation among people seeking sanctuary. To facilitate effective public involvement, we provided named contacts for support (A. K. and R. F.), research training, honoraria, reimbursement of expenses and accessible information in line with best practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers a case study of the dynamic of securitisation of asylum seekers and migrants in Poland since 2015. It uses a unique case of the external actor – the Belarussian government – not merely threatening to escalate the pre-existing situation but actively constructing it by creating new migration flows and forcibly pushing asylum-seekers and migrants into the EU. By reconstructing the discourse and practice of the securitising actor and the intervention of the external actor, the paper shows that the pre-existing securitisation of asylum seekers and migrants in Poland was instrumentalised by the external actor, which led to the further development and intensification of the securitising policies and practices and their justifications. The analysis contributes to our understanding of the securitisation process in the moment of the context change as triggered by an exogenous factor – an intervention by the external actor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root shock is a predictable consequence of several sets of social policies in Ireland. This paper will look at how root shock is used to discipline one-parent families and people seeking asylum in Ireland. Changes to benefits and housing systems since the global economic crisis of 2008 has seen one-parent families suffer the most intense root shock through deprivation and homelessness. People seeking asylum have already suffered the most awful root shock while experiencing racism and suspicion from the Irish state, limiting their integration and overall safety. While the Irish state continues to fail to support either group, divisions deepen. The consequences of root shock have created the space for a politics of hate, which pits people seeking refuge against homeless one-parent families and allowed the far right in Ireland to weaponize the housing crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers includes addressing their information needs. This research seeks to examine the role of public libraries in this process through the analysis of public librarians' perceptions. Based on the constructivist paradigm, the case study method, and the semi-directive interview survey technique, 16 public municipal libraries in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (Portugal) are studied. The results highlight that these libraries do not identify forced migrants as their users. Still, they consider that the information needs and behaviors and the use of libraries by these communities are similar to those of economic migrants, with emphasis on the relevance of free access to the internet, foreign language resources, Portuguese language and digital literacy courses, and help to interact with online platforms. The gaps include the existence of few Portuguese courses for foreigners, a limited practice in assisting with job and housing searches, promoting health literacy, and inclusive collaboration with schools, as well as space, financial, and human resources constraints. To overcome these difficulties, librarians emphasize the motivation to fulfill the inclusive social mission of the public library, the universal accessibility and informal environment of the library, and its action to promote social cohesion and social capital. The respondents consider that the mission of public libraries is adjusted to the goal of social inclusion of forced migrants, but that there is room for improvement in the training of librarians. This research points to the need for more initiative-taking public library collaboration with existing inclusion networks. In conclusion, we seek to alert to the urgency of the involvement of Portuguese public libraries in the social inclusion of forced migrants, which will also contribute to their institutional legitimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on food security and nutrition -FSN among refugees found high rates of food insecurity- FI among refugees in both, low- and middle-income - LMIC countries and high-income countries- HIC. Despite high rates of FI among refugees in HIC, little is known about FSN status of refugees and asylum-seekers living in refugee camps in the European Union- EU. This paper addresses this knowledge gap by reviewing issues related to the Food Security and Nutrition-FSN of refugees in the EU and worldwide and provides three main contributions to the existing knowledge. Firstly, it identifies the main drivers of FSN in a refugee context and offer a causal framework describing the main causes and effects of FNI in refugee camps. The immediate causes of FNI are poor Shelter and Settlement, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene and Healthcare. Moreover, secondary causes of FNI are the lack of adaptation to a new environment; Lack of culturally adapted food; Inadequate FSN interventions; Poor livelihood strategies. Secondly, it demonstrates that FNI exists in European refugee camps underscoring that EU member states have been unable to deliver sustainable solutions towards the realization of FSN in the E.U. Finally, the paper calls for a multisectoral and non-discriminatory European common policy targeting refugees' FSN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study is to determine the causes of blindness and ocular morbidity among refugees and asylum seekers applying for a disability report in our region. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted by scanning Syrian refugees and asylum seekers who applied for a disabled health board r eport at a state hospital. Syrian refugees and asylum seekers applying for a disability health board report for different ages and genders were examined considering ocular morbidity and how often they had a visual impairment. Results: While 72 of 281 applicants included in the study were evaluated in the pediatric age group; 209 of them were in the adult age group. Among the pediatric age group, there were 46 (64%) men and 26 (36%) women. In the adult age group, there were 132 (63%) men and 77 (37%) women. The most common ocular morbidities for the pediatric age group are esotropia (20 cases, 27.8%), amblyopia (11 cases, 15.2%), exotropia (9 cases, 12.5%) and nystagmus (9 cases, 12%, 5), the most common ocular morbidities we encountered in the adult age group were cataracts (69 cases, 33.0%), diabetic retinopathy (39 cases, 18.6%) and amblyopia (19 cases, 9.0%). No difference was observed between male and female applicants. Conclusions: Refugees and asylum seekers are frequently encountered among the applicants of the disability health board report. If these people have visual impairments, ocular morbidity can be monitored in many different ways depending on their age and health history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there is extensive research on how institutional trust and distrust play out in the forms political participation takes, the existing research lacks thorough analysis on what trust and distrust actually consist of, that is, how individuals evaluate institutions as trustworthy or not and what consequences this evaluation has for individuals and their relation to the state more broadly. Drawing on qualitative research on Finnish citizens who engage in pro-asylum activism, we examine how institutional distrusting evolves as a reflexive process. By analysing citizens' trust judgements on institutional practices and actions that follow, we argue that distrust in institutions enhances activists' attempts to engage in corrective practices, in other words taking over the functions of institutions when noticing mistakes or unfairness in institutional practices. Corrective practices reinforce activists' distrust in the asylum-related institutions and make them question the 'myth' of Finland as an equal and inclusive country. Engaging in corrective practices is emotionally and economically taxing. Despite negative consequences of institutional distrust, activists continue their work indicating that they continue to trust the democratic system in Finland and its capability to absorb their claims in the long run. Institutional distrust and generalised trust can then coexist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]