Refugee mental health research: challenges and policy implications

Mental illness is common among forced migrant populations, and ongoing mental illness can hinder refugees’ ability to negotiate the asylum process. This editorial rehearses the challenges of undertaking research among forced migrant populations, exploring how they could be addressed in future research, and outlines differences between forced migrant groups. It points to the growing body of evidence that can be called on in advocating for systemic change in government policy and mental health services, with significant support for a sensitive and objective inquisitorial approach to gathering evidence in support of asylum claims.