Refugees often experience high levels of stress, trauma, and mental health issues related to their displacement and resettlement experiences. The latest report from The Baring Foundation and Counterpoint Arts showcases the work of 12 organisations who offer creative opportunities, across a range of artforms, and support to refugees and people seeking asylum.
The mental health of refugees is a critical public health issue. Research shows that refugees often experience high levels of stress, trauma, and mental health issues related to their displacement and resettlement experiences. In 2023, the number of forcibly displaced or stateless individuals across the world is estimated to have risen to 117.2 million,1 which marks a sharp increase from the 84 million that were displaced in 2021. The first half of 2022 alone saw more than 11.9 million people having to leave their homes due to the war in Ukraine.2 The psychological impact of displacement has been widely documented, and the case studies featured in this report (pages 11-45) provide further evidence of this, particularly within the British context.
61% of asylum seekers experience serious mental illness and they are five times more likely to have mental health needs than the UK population.
