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The psychosocial experience of UK immigration detention

Jake Hollis (Croydon Forensic Service, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Croydon, UK)

International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care

ISSN: 1747-9894

Article publication date: 7 January 2019

Issue publication date: 21 February 2019

622

Abstract

Purpose

Existing quantitative research demonstrates negatively impacted mental health outcomes for people detained in immigration removal centres (IRCs) in the UK. However, there is limited qualitative research on the phenomenology of life inside UK IRCs. The purpose of this paper is to explore the psychosocial stressors experienced by people in detention, the psychological impacts of being detained and the ways in which people express resilience and cope in detention.

Design/methodology/approach

In-depth interviews were conducted with nine people who had previously been held in UK IRCs. Interview transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Findings

Participants experienced incredulity and cognitive dissonance at being detained, and found themselves deprived of communication and healthcare needs. These stressors led participants to feel powerless, doubt themselves and their worldviews, and ruminate about their uncertain futures. However, participants also demonstrated resilience, and used proactive behaviours, spirituality and personal relationships to cope in detention. Antonovsky’s (1979) theory on wellbeing – sense of coherence – was found to have particular explanatory value for these findings.

Research limitations/implications

The sample of participants used in this study was skewed towards male, Iranian asylum seekers, and the findings therefore may have less applicability to the experiences of females, ex-prisoners and people from different geographical and cultural backgrounds.

Originality/value

This study offers a range of new insights into how detention in the UK impacts on people’s lives. The findings may be useful to policy makers who legislate on and regulate the UK immigration detention system, as well as custodial staff and health and social care practitioners working in IRCs.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Conflict of interests: the author declares no conflict of interests.

The researcher wishes to thank all participants for sharing their experiences. The researcher would also like to thank Scottish Detainee Visitors, and its offshoot mutual-support group, Life After Detention, for their support with this research, and also to Kate Reid, Katy Robjant, Cornelius Katona, Shirley Gillan, Kate Alexander and Sarah Dilks for their generous guidance and support at various stages of this project.

Citation

Hollis, J. (2019), "The psychosocial experience of UK immigration detention", International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, Vol. 15 No. 1, pp. 76-89. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMHSC-04-2018-0024

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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