The mental health needs of asylum seekers and refugees

Asylum seekers and refugees face complex mental health issues that may relate to their pre-migration experiences of war and persecution, and to the struggle of settling into life in the UK afterwards. Primary care is one of the routes for these individuals to obtain mental health support, but GPs may encounter obstacles to providing appropriate care. Individuals may face barriers to accessing and effectively utilising mental healthcare. This article aims to inform GPs about the mental health needs of asylum seekers and refugees, and provide them with strategies to address these needs and overcome challenges to the healthcare inequality faced by this population.