Asylum seekers are at high risk of developing PTSD, they are often fleeing their countries of origin, as Luiz has done, they will share the experiences of collective torture, exposure to politically motivated terror, torture or massacre. (Barnett and Peel 2001)
As Luiz approaches his eighteenth birthday, he has the added pressure of being moved to bed and breakfast accommodation, his psychotherapist voices concerns that he will loose support and feels that he is vulnerable. Contrary to her concerns, in 2002 the United Kingdom government implemented a policy, which allowed for the establishment of a resettlement scheme for vulnerable refugees who are in need of long-term protection. (Cramb and Hudek 2005). However, if it was explained to Luiz that he could receive long term protection, and not be sent back to his own country he could feel safe and adapt to his surrounding without fear of being deported. This scheme also provides holistic support that ranges from financial benefits to counselling services. The Refugees who are part of this scheme have given positive feedback and have commented that ‘now they feel safe and they are happy with life’.
In 2007, 3,525 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children aged seventeen and under, applied for asylum. (Home Office 2008). Luiz would have had to follow this procedure in order to gain citizenship. An unaccompanied asylum-seeking child is a person who, at the time of making the asylum application: is, or appears to be, under eighteen when applying for asylum in his or her own right and has no adult relative or guardian to turn to in this country. (Asylum Support 2002)
Luiz has arrived into this country as an unaccompanied child; he will be seen as having no family, no permanent place of origin, no job, and the probability of a communication/language barrier. Erikson (1975) understands that loss of identity is an ‘identity crisis’ he also states that it is first and foremost the adolescent crisis, yet he does not see it restricted to this phase of life.
Every child in Britain is entitled to an education, after completing his education; there is the opportunity to enter further education or participation as an apprentice, learning a trade. The Office of High Commission for Human Rights (2002), states that ‘the child is entitled to receive education, which shall be free and compulsory, at least in the elementary stages. Luiz shall be given an education, which will promote his general culture and enable him to develop his abilities and individual judgement, also his sense of moral and social responsibility, and to become a useful member of society. This will assist Luiz in obtaining a job which will support him financially and help him to develop a socially network through work colleagues.
Through his short time in secondary school, Luiz would have attained vital life skills, as well as academic learning. Parsons (1961) argued that, after primary socialisation within the family, the school takes over as the ‘focal socialisation agency’. He found that schools acted as a bridge between family and society preparing children for their adult role. In his words, ‘school is seen as the major mechanism for role allocation’.
Asylum policies, with regards to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, state that these children are assisted by the refugee’s council panel of advisers, and together receive assistance from the local authorities and children’s services departments. Section Eleven of the Children’s Act (2004) places a duty on the local authorities to safe guard children and to promote their welfare this would be beneficial for Luiz, as they would provide appropriate services that would accommodate his individual needs.
Luiz will also benefit from Section Twenty of the of the Children’s Act (1989), this section necessitates that the local authority is to provide accommodation for all children in need. Moreover, Section Twenty-four extends its duty to children who have been accommodated under Section Twenty by assisting them with their education, training, and employment needs until the age of twenty-one.
Luiz, being sixteen at his time of arrival to the UK would have been assessed for independent living, this means that his accommodation will be in shared accommodation with a level of supervision and support. However if Luiz had entered the country under the age of sixteen he would have been placed in either a children’s home or with foster parents. (Home Office 2007).
Within the BBC East Midlands Today (2007), reported that asylum seekers accommodations were run down hobbles in deprived areas. The housing association for refugee support denied any complaints being made. Other reports indicate that asylum seekers are over crowded in their accommodation. Both of these living conditions would potentially cause health problems for Luiz, adding extra stressors to his psychological state.
A Doncaster Asylum Seekers Support Team (DASST) who have a five-year contract with the home office, have gained responsibility for the housing of asylum seekers and providing support for them whilst their claim is being evaluated. The support team currently have 142 properties that are spread across the borough. Weekly operations take place with other agencies that work with the asylum seekers and offer them advice. These weekly meetings are also a chance for asylum seekers to socialise and meet new friends. (DASST 2007). This would be positive for Luiz as he is young and perhaps, at this moment, feels like he is the only one that has gone through what he has been through, learning and communicating with others will help him to converse his experiences.
Key (1981) recognises that communication is a primarily system of accommodation, to get from one point in time to another point in time, and to get from one relationship or situation to another. As walking, is a system to get from one place to another – in space – so language is a system to get from one place to another – in time.
In 2000, the local authorities introduced a system named the ‘Pathway Plan’. This plan indicated that any child who had been cared for, for more than thirteen weeks since the age of fourteen and was now the age sixteen or seventeen was eligible to be allocated a social worker or personal advisor. These professionals would work with the child identifying their needs and ensuring that these were met. For example, health care is one of the areas that Luiz would have indicted that he needed, the professionals would make sure that he could access primary NHS healthcare for free. (Bristol City Council 2008)
Asylum seekers, like luiz, often find it hard when they first arrive in the United Kingdom, regarding their entitlement to health care. It appears that general practitioners are also experiencing the same problems. An article printed in the BMJ in 2002 stated that general practitioners are often confused about these people's entitlements. Therefore, have registered them on a temporary rather than a permanent basis, this means it excludes them from a full package of checks and advice. Additionally, various forms of identification are being requested before registration. Guidelines state that practices are not required to ask for passports or immigration documents as proof of status and should encourage general practitioners to offer permanent rather than temporary registration. (Jones 2000).
Within the Media, asylum seekers are portrayed as scroungers and problem causes to Britain. Many people read or listen to these stories and believe it as gospel, this leads to resentment, anger and hysteria as a result we become racist towards them. Sanderson (2008) wrote an article in The Sun blaming the influx of refugees for the present ‘credit crunch’ claiming that the immigrants have killed off any extra money we had in the pot.
‘Racism does not stay still. It changes shape with changes in the economy, the social structure, the system, and above all the challenges the resistances to the system’. (Sivanandan 2002)
Fearing for their safety and adding extra stressors onto their previous stress of escaping torture in their own countries, some asylum seekers see no way out. North West asylum seekers defence group (2008) declared that since 2001 alone, as racist immigration legislation has become increasingly vicious, there have been 41 suicides of asylum seekers, refugees, and migrant workers.
Asylum seekers are not allowed to work for the first six months when they arrive in Britain, while they wait for a decision about their work permits. During this time, they are allowed to take unpaid or voluntary work. (Human Rights 2003).
The asylum seekers income support rates are below normal. Research shows that they receive thirty percent below normal levels, less than forty pounds per week, in addition to accommodation and utilities. (Slough borough Council 2008). Lack of money causes poverty that leads to ill health. Statistics show that people on low incomes have the lowest intake of healthy foods and a high intake of fats sugar and salt. This unhealthy diet increases the risks of diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cancer and heart disease. (National heart 2005). Salway et al (2007) found that financial hardship was common, particularly where 'sickness' benefits were not received. However, the system itself was a barrier, being seen as unfair, stressful, and complicated. Minority ethnic individuals were less likely than white people to receive 'sickness' benefits.
To conclude, even though the government have a clear distinction between the age of a child and an adult, they are trying to compensate for his psychotherapist by offering free NHS treatment, a Social Worker/ Personal Advisor and a Local General Practitioner. Housing is sought to be close to the comforts of his surroundings, therefore alleviating his fears, anxieties, and stressors that moving home can enforce. However, Luiz, as an independent adult, will be living in poverty and endure possible racism from nearby white British residents.
Through research, it was found that government policies on asylum-seekers, which related to Luiz’s case, promoted positive effects concerning healthcare, education and numerous support teams available. However, income, standards of living, and racial abuse still need to be improved.
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