INTEGRATION OR ISOLATION?Mapping social connection and well-being

amongst refugees in Glasgow

Alison StrangInstitute for International Health and Development

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

Neil Quinn & Michelle HuntHealth Improvement Lead

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Context for the study

Many asylum seekers and refugees :

feel very isolated and lonely

suffer with poor mental health

experience discrimination and exclusion

fail to access support services effectively

Social isolation

Less than half have been in contact with

family in the last six months

Less than half have any ‘Scottish’ friends

experience discrimination and exclusion

Refugees feel over-dependent on service

providers

There are very limited opportunities for

reciprocal relationships

Access to Services

Even refugees who have been in the

country for several years have very

limited awareness of services

Moving home – especially to a different

neighbourhood – disrupts integration

Supporting Resilience

Refugee Resilience

Key action points

Targeted interventions are needed to connect people with others from arrival.

Harness the capacity of refugees to help themselves and others

Support programmes should include local people as well as new refugees to prevent the escalation of distrust, racism and discrimination.

Peer Education approach recently piloted by NHS GCC and SRC has proved an effective approach to raising awareness of services and improving healthy behavior.

Stability of housing in the same neighbourhood enables refugees and settled residents to integrate.

REFUGEE PEER EDUCATIONFOR HEALTH AND WELL-BEINGEvaluation Report

Dr Alison B StrangQueen Margaret UniversityMay 2014 – March 2015

Key action points

Targeted interventions are needed to connect people with others from arrival.

Harness the capacity of refugees to help themselves and others

Support programmes should include local people as well as new refugees to prevent the escalation of distrust, racism and discrimination.

Peer Education approach recently piloted by NHS GCC and SRC has proved an effective approach to raising awareness of services and improving healthy behavior.

Stability of housing in the same neighbourhood enables refugees and settled residents to integrate.

INTEGRATION OR ISOLATION?Mapping social connection and well-being

amongst refugees in Glasgow

Alison StrangInstitute for International Health and Development

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

Neil Quinn & Michelle HuntHealth Improvement Lead

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde