Seeking asylum: an adversarial system and culture of disbelief

Seeking asylum is an arduous process, and linked to psychological distress and mental health issues in both adults and children. Existing research argues that a culture of disbelief permeates the asylum system, with individuals required to navigate this complex process, to prove their credibility and receive protection. Recent conflicts have led to rising numbers of individuals seeking asylum, however, some Western countries have introduced increasingly stringent asylum policies. This thesis explores the process and impact of current asylum procedures at this significant time. Chapter one is a critical review of quantitative and qualitative research exploring the impact of immigration detention on asylum seekers’ mental health. Following database and manual searches, twelve studies were reviewed. The findings revealed the significant negative impact of detention on individuals’ mental health, which deteriorated over time and persisted following release. The review highlights the importance of policy change and consideration of alternative community-based management of asylum seekers to protect their mental health and foster resilience. Chapter two is a qualitative research study that explored the ‘function of talk’ used within the substantive asylum interview with unaccompanied asylum seeking children. Using discourse analysis, three distinct yet overlapping strategies were identified, which functioned to discredit the child’s account and construct the children as dishonest. Suggestions for future research, methodological limitations and clinical implications are discussed. Chapter three is a reflective account, exploring the impact of power and control throughout the researcher’s clinical and research journey. It explores the researcher’s values, experiences and assumptions and the importance of reflection and reflexivity to manage their influence throughout the research proces