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Vulnerable refugees ‘barred’ from health services

New research highlights how young refugee children and their families are more likely to suffer from mental health problems than their peers and face barriers to accessing health support.

The National Children’s Bureau has examined the provision of public health services by local authorities, in delivering the Healthy Child Programme, for refugee and migrant children from birth to five.

The NCB’s review of evidence relates to refugee and asylum-seeking children, and children of economic migrants, born within and outside the UK.

The mental health of young refugee and migrant children is highlighted in the report as ‘by far the most dominant issue’, as they are particularly vulnerable to mental health problems, and are at higher risk compared with their peers, the NCB says.

Unaccompanied asylum-seeking and migrant children are especially vulnerable to post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, self-harm and loneliness. ‘Public health experts advise that the mental health needs of children seeking asylum are underestimated and neglected,’ says the report, Delivering the Healthy Child Programme for young refugee and migrant children.

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