Protecting the mental health of people seeking sanctuary in the UK’s evolving legislative landscape
People who have been displaced and are seeking refuge and protection may have faced violence, danger or exploitation and lost loved ones. These can be deeply traumatic experiences and increase the risk that someone might develop a mental illness such as anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder.
This report, developed and revised over the past two years, addresses the profound implications of asylum legislation introduced by the previous government, including the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 (NABA), the Illegal Migration Act 2023 (IMA), and the Safety of Rwanda Act 2024.
The rapid introduction and implementation of these laws have raised significant concerns among professionals and advocacy groups regarding their impact on mental health. In our view, there is now an important opportunity for a new government, as well as the Royal College of Psychiatrists and mental health professionals, to take action to mitigate this impact.