Uplifting Social Support for Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Abstract

Refugees and asylum seekers (R&AS) are some of the worlds most resilient and strong-willed people. Simultaneously, they can also be some of the world’s most vulnerable and marginalized. Through a process of traumatization and transformation, R&AS navigate the many intricate roads of their life journeys. Beyond navigation, with appropriate social support, R&AS can also heal, start anew, and thrive during the process. Social support can be a vital tool that can benefit their post-migration experiences and circumstances. Social support can act as restorative stepping-stones that positively impact and mitigate further mental and behavioral health issues, acculturation stressors and intergenerational traumas. Deep-rooted, historical, institutional and political barriers can impede social support for R&AS. R&AS are often faced with limited or fragmented service provision, enforced dependency and joblessness, and cultural and linguistic barriers preventing access to social and healthcare services. Societal attitudes and values can also be strong deterrents or proponents of R&AS social support. Using Hong Kong as a case example, the following chapter seeks to address some of these factors as well as propose how advocacy at the micro, mezzo and macro levels of the transition or host community can enable effective, culturally competent and holistic social support for R&AS. A holistic model of protective social support elements is proposed to foster strengths and resilience of R&AS.