The Movers and Shakers!

Click here to check out this fascinating interactive graphic charting estimated global international migration flows between and within regions in five-year increments from 1990-2010.

Asylum Housing Not Up to Standard, say MP's

A report by the Commons committee has concluded that the asylum housing provided by the Home Office's contracts was not up to standard.  Committee chairwoman Margaret Hodge said that the scheme was "poorly planned and badly managed" and that "The standard of the accommodation provided has been unacceptably poor for a very fragile group of individuals and families." Click here to read more about the report. 

When Old Memories Resurface...

Thank you to our resident photographer, who wishes to remain anonymous, for submitting this photo. We hope to post many more like it!

There was a time when a warm, comfortable house was only just a dream.

One day as I walked in the street, I saw this sofa, and suddenly 

I was again that man who used to spend his nights in the open air, 

in the cold and winterish weather, when nothing seemed to make sense.

Luckily today things have improved a little bit, but this sofa reminds me 

of those harsh days that still are a constant presence in my everyday life.

New Syndrome Affecting Asylum Seekers Named

Thanks to David for making us aware of a new syndrome, Prolonged Asylum Seeker Syndrome. If you think you or someone you know might be experiencing the following symptoms, it is important to seek help and support from a mental health professional.

Be Aware of a New Syndrome! 

What is it? Who can be affected? How widespread is it? How can you help those suffering from such a syndrome? 

Well, the new syndrome was called "Protracted Asylum Seeker Syndrome" by a group of psychiatrist researchers. They published their findings at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists in Hobart in 2012. As the name indicates, it affects asylum seekers. To show how widespread it is, a news report said: "Major depression was diagnosed in more than 60 percent of asylum seekers and about 30 percent of refugees." 

You may click here to read about the syndrome or here to hear Associate Professor Sundram describe it.

You may also read the interesting article pasted below or click here to read it in its original form:

The Challenges of Supporting Oneself as a Refugee

Thanks to David for sharing these three very informative articles regarding refugees' work status and benefits allowance, highlighting the limitations they face as they try to establish themselves in their new lives.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/maurice-wren/refugee-council_b_5074999.html

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/08/professional-refugees-lawyers-doctors-minimum-wage-uk

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/apr/09/asylum-seeker-subsistence-payments-defeat-government-theresa-may

Speak Aloud Drama Group at the Migrants Resource Centre

Mental Health Is Great Health

Thanks to Zahra for sharing these thoughts on the importance of paying as much attention to our mental wellbeing as our physical health.

Mental health is not a matter of having a lack of sad life experiences; it is learning how to keep a healthy mind in spite of those experiences. 

In order to stay healthy, it is important for us to routinely have our health checked and to highlight all of our medical appointments in our diary. From an early age, we learn to take responsibility for our body, such as dental, eye and sexual health, as well as diet. Doctors who check our overall health spend time updating our personal and family medical history. 

Mental health is another service for keeping us well and should be part of our routine health check up. We need to ensure that we are maintaining a healthy mind and practice for wellbeing, as our mind is an essential tool to serve our body in order to help us live well.

When we endure experiences in our life which our thoughts are unable to digest, our minds get sick and we suffer emotional pain. Trying to ignore these exceptional experiences and hide them away from others, we find ourselves unable to eat, concentrate, sleep, play or work. But it is really important that we address the causes of these physical symptoms and ask for help in learning how to deal with these experiences.

Nietzsche described mental health as "great health" that helps us to accept our experiences as knowledge of our body. Whenever we feel fear, anger, sadness, despair, irritation, confusion and frustration, we must remember that we still have in our hands unrevealed potential for happiness to move positively on in our lives!