Close Menu
WTX News
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • Chelsea’s Maresca: No concern despite 3rd red card in 4 games
    • Trump gives Hamas peace deal deadline as key allies including Qatar urge it to accept
    • Lionel Richie makes shocking claim about Michael Jackson’s hygiene
    • Man charged with murder of his parents and brother after their bodies found at family home
    • Devine wants New Zealand to ‘hiss and roar’ past Australia
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    WTX News
    • Live News
      • US News
      • EU News
      • UK News
      • Politics
      • COVID-19
      • Business
      • Tech zone
    • World news
      • Middle East News
        • UAE News
        • Palestine News
      • Europe
        • Italian News
        • Spanish News
      • Africa news
      • South America
      • North America
      • Asia
    • News Briefings
      • UK News Briefing
      • World News Briefing
      • Live Business News
    • Sports
      • Football News
      • Tennis
      • Women’s Football
    • MY World
      • Climate Change
      • In Review
      • Expose
      • Special Reports
        • Conscience Convoy
        • Rohingya Report
    • Entertainment
      • Insta Talk
      • Royal Family
      • Gaming News
      • TV Shows
      • Streaming
    • Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • Fashion
      • Cooking recipes
      • Luxury
      • Money Saving Expert
    • Travel
      • Culture
      • Holidays
    • Sign Up
      • Log In
    WTX News
    • Live News
    • World news
    • News Briefings
    • Sports
    • MY World
    • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Sign Up
    Home - UK News - Asylum system leading people to ‘consider taking their own lives’, says charity

    Asylum system leading people to ‘consider taking their own lives’, says charity

    Asylum system leading people to ‘consider taking their own lives’, says charity

    Asylum system leading people to ‘consider taking their own lives’, says charity

    • WTX News Editor
    • April 13, 2025
    • 4:48 am
    • No Comments

    Cliff Notes

    • A leading mental health charity warns that the asylum system in the UK exacerbates the mental health crises among asylum seekers, increasing the risk of suicide.
    • The charity’s chief executive, Mark Rowland, highlights the traumatic impact of the asylum process, as individuals report severe mental health issues and feelings of hopelessness while awaiting decisions.
    • The organisation urges the government to officially record suicide rates among asylum seekers, citing a lack of data as a barrier to addressing these urgent public health concerns.

    Asylum system leading people to ‘consider taking their own lives’, says charity | UK News

    .

    A leading mental health charity is warning the asylum system is increasing the risk of suicide among asylum seekers and refugees.

    Content warning: this article contains references to suicide

    The Mental Health Foundation says the way the asylum system is set up is “consistently undermining and damaging asylum seekers’ mental health”, leading to an increased risk of suicide.

    The charity’s chief executive, Mark Rowland, told Sky News the current system, which prevents people from working for 12 months, is creating an “emergency situation”.

    He says people who get supported by his charity report that the asylum system is so traumatic that it’s “leading them to consider taking their own lives”, adding their mental health problems have “never been worse”.

    In a fresh call, Mr Rowland is urging the government to start recording suicides among asylum seekers as part of official statistics.

    He says charities in the sector are struggling to tackle the issue from a public health perspective because of the lack of data.

    Image:
    Sami Gichki, who fled to the UK to escape persecution, suffered mental health issues waiting for his asylum claim decision

    Sami Gichki, now 21, was 10 years old when his family fled political persecution in Pakistan and came to the UK.

    He came from Balochistan in the southwest of the country and told Sky News that around a dozen of his relatives had been assassinated due to their political beliefs.

    Image:
    Sami who arrived in the UK when he was 10, and his sister Ilsa, in happier times

    Image:
    Sami’s family have been waiting a decade for an asylum decision. Left to right: mum Alia, sister Unzailah, dad Afzal, Sami, sister Ilsa, sister Durrain

    He spent a decade waiting for a Home Office decision on his refugee status and says he became suicidal due to his inability to work or continue studying without financial support when he finished sixth form. He says it left him without a “sense of purpose”.

    He said he ended up in A&E because of his suicidal thoughts, believing he “would be better off dead” than in the asylum system.

    Reflecting on cases like Sami’s, Mr Rowland says the situation is creating a “perfect storm”, where people who have often undergone trauma are subjected to a highly stressful asylum system.

    The remarks come after statistics published by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research suggest allowing asylum seekers to work after just six months could save £4.4bn in government savings, deliver £1bn in growth and raise £880m in tax revenue.

    Image:
    Mark Rowland from the Mental Health Foundation says mental health problems among asylum seekers have ‘never been worse’

    When questioned about whether this would create a greater “pull factor” for economic migration, Mr Rowland said, “this isn’t why an asylum seeker chooses a place of safety”.

    A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are determined to continue cracking down on anyone working illegally in the UK, and we certainly have no intention of creating a fast-track process so that people who come to the UK outside the established work visa rules are simply allowed to ignore them.

    “We take the welfare of those in our care very seriously, but relaxing the rules on illegal working is not an acceptable solution.”

    :: Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.

    Advertisment
    News Headlines
    Trump gives Hamas peace deal deadline as key allies including Qatar urge it to accept

    Trump gives Hamas peace deal deadline as key allies including Qatar urge it to accept

    Man charged with murder of his parents and brother after their bodies found at family home

    Man charged with murder of his parents and brother after their bodies found at family home

    Save 70% on VIP subscription
    News Briefings - the way to a better life
    News Briefings - the way to a better life
    Advert by Sponsors
    More from WTX News
    The latest gaming news - with game reviews and tips and tricks. updated 24 hours a day.
    The latest gaming news
    Hot off the press!
    • Chelsea’s Maresca: No concern despite 3rd red card in 4 games October 1, 2025
    • Trump gives Hamas peace deal deadline as key allies including Qatar urge it to accept October 1, 2025
    • Lionel Richie makes shocking claim about Michael Jackson’s hygiene September 30, 2025
    • Man charged with murder of his parents and brother after their bodies found at family home September 30, 2025
    • Devine wants New Zealand to ‘hiss and roar’ past Australia September 30, 2025
    WTX News latest breaking news sports and travel
    Latest News and analysis - Deciphering through the BS with exclusive News Briefings
    Facebook X (Twitter) TikTok Instagram

    News

    • World News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • EU News
    • Business
    • Opinions
    • News Briefing
    • Live News

    Company

    • About WTX News
    • Register
    • Advertising
    • Work with us
    • Contact
    • Community
    • GDPR Policy
    • Privacy

    Services

    • Fitness for free
    • Insta Talk
    • How to guides
    • Climate Change
    • In Review
    • Expose
    • NEWS SUMMARY
    • Money Saving Expert

    News delivered to your inbox

    Copyright WTX News 2025

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.