Moving from ‘Complexity’ to Recognizing ‘Humanity’: Exploring the Mental Health Needs of Refugees and Asylum Seekers Through a Recovery Framework

Omran, Lara (2025) Moving from ‘Complexity’ to Recognizing ‘Humanity’: Exploring the Mental Health Needs of Refugees and Asylum Seekers Through a Recovery Framework. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

Forced migration is a growing global crisis that profoundly impacts the mental health of refugees and asylum seekers (RAS). Many face pre-migration trauma, post-migration stress, and structural barriers that contribute to increased rates of mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Despite their heightened vulnerability, RAS populations often experience significant obstacles in accessing appropriate and culturally responsive mental health care. Understanding the psychological needs and experiences of RAS through a recovery framework is essential in addressing these challenges and informing mental health service provision.

This thesis portfolio explores the mental health needs of RAS populations through two interconnected research pieces. The first is a systematic review that synthesizes qualitative research to examine how mental health literacy influences help-seeking behaviours among RAS, providing a theoretical model that highlights key barriers such as cultural perceptions of mental health, social stigma, limited-service awareness, and mistrust of healthcare systems.

The second component is an empirical study that qualitatively explores the meaning of recovery for RAS from the perspectives of healthcare and mental health professionals who support them. The study highlights the necessity of integrating social determinants, trauma-informed care, and culturally responsive approaches into recovery frameworks to better support the mental health of RAS populations.

Collectively, these two research components contribute novel insights into the mental health needs and recovery journeys of RAS. The findings underscore the importance of culturally competent interventions, trust-building in mental healthcare provision, and the need for a more inclusive recovery framework that acknowledges the systemic and contextual factors shaping RAS mental health experiences. This thesis portfolio offers valuable implications for clinical practice, policy development, and future research, advocating for a paradigm shift from viewing RAS through a lens of complexity to recognizing their resilience and humanity

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
Depositing User:	Chris White
Date Deposited:	28 Jan 2026 15:58
Last Modified:	28 Jan 2026 15:58
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/101777
DOI:

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