Following the murder of three girls at a Southport dance class last summer, the riots led to a significant decline in the mental health of asylum seekers. Many of them became fearful of walking down the street, worrying they might be targeted by far-right protesters, according to a recent report.
The Mental Health Foundation’s report, published on Tuesday, highlights a deterioration in the mental health of asylum seekers due to the civil unrest and attacks on hotels. This decline is compared to the state of their mental health in February 2024 when they published a similar report.
Mark Rowland, the chief executive officer of the Mental Health Foundation, elaborated, “The racist riots of summer 2024 severely impacted the mental health of many individuals seeking asylum in the UK. We’ve heard stories of people being too scared to leave their accommodations, fearing isolation, and others fearing attacks due to their skin color.”
He further emphasized, “The climate of hostility has intensified, particularly on social media, which played a crucial role in escalating tensions. Misformation and racist rhetoric have surged, especially on platforms like X, with some individuals reporting encountering hate content within minutes of logging on. The UK government needs to take more action against the spread of disinformation and hate both online and offline.”
The report also advocates for allowing asylum seekers the right to work in any job if the Home Office has not processed their claim within six months. This, it argues, would not only enhance asylum seekers’ mental health but also increase tax revenue for the government. The data supporting this argument comes from the Institute of Economic and Social Research.
According to the figures, enabling asylum seekers to work after six months would save the country £4.4bn in government spending, boost the economy by £1bn, increase tax revenue by £880m, reduce the mental health impacts of unemployment and destitution on asylum seekers, promote better integration, and reduce reliance on taxpayer support.
The report emphasizes that preventing asylum seekers from obtaining jobs leads to a state of “workless stagnation.” It supports the Lift The Ban campaign, a coalition of over 300 charities, trade unions, businesses, faith groups, and think tanks that has been urging the government to allow asylum seekers to work in a wider range of industries.
Under current rules, only certain asylum seekers qualified in shortage occupations can apply for jobs after a year if their claim hasn’t been determined. This system effectively bars many from working.
Rowland further stated, “Allowing asylum seekers to work is a straightforward decision that benefits everyone, from the asylum seekers themselves to businesses, the government, the NHS, and our local communities. The current system is both damaging and costly and must change.”
The foundation, which provides mental health support to asylum seekers and refugees through programs across the UK, also pointed out the severe poverty faced by asylum seekers. Some have to make difficult choices between skipping meals or paying for bus fare to attend crucial appointments.
The term “asylum seeker” was also found to stigmatize these individuals. A child involved in the research shared that she hid her asylum seeker status from her school friends to avoid exclusion.
A Home Office spokesperson responded, “While the wellbeing of those in the asylum system is important, we are committed to combating anyone working here without proper permissions. We definitely do not intend to establish a fast-track process that allows those coming to the UK outside the established work visa rules to disregard them.”
