Refugees
This resource helps GPs provide inclusive, culturally safe mental health care to patients with refugee and/or asylum seeker backgrounds. It offers practical tips to build trust, ask sensitive questions respectfully, and recognise when to proceed with caution. Designed to support Mental Health Care Plans, it highlights the GP’s vital role in addressing the unique needs of patients from diverse backgrounds who often face higher rates of distress, trauma, and barriers to care.
The questions/statements in this resource are suggestions only. Use your clinical judgment to determine what to ask and when, and feel free to navigate the guide in whatever order is appropriate.
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Focus on building trust |
Past trauma, systemic discrimination, or cultural disconnection can affect how people engage. Active listening, empathy, kindness and a trauma-informed approach go a long way. |
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Cultural safety is essential |
Make your practice a welcoming space. Use inclusive language and respect cultural protocols and identity. A culturally safe interaction is more than just non-discriminatory—it actively affirms the person. |
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Consent is contextual |
In some communities, topics like suicide or sexual identity may be taboo. Consent may not be valid if the patient does not understand where the conversation is heading or if discussing the issue is culturally unthinkable. Move slowly and check in often. |
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Avoid assumptions |
Each person’s story is different. Don’t rely on stereotypes—even within communities, lived experiences vary. Ask with curiosity and care. Avoid assumptions based on ethnicity, language, or appearance. |
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Language matters |
Speak clearly and respectfully, using everyday words that avoid judgment or labels. |
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Stigma and shame around mental health |
Be conscious of stigmatised terms such as ‘mental health’ and ‘suicide’ and choose alternatives when necessary. |
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The role of the GP |
You don’t need to ask in depth detail about trauma in order to complete a good MHCP. The risk of re-traumatising someone is very real. Instead, symptom management, assessing and facilitating pathways to safety and development of a trusting therapeutic relationship are important factors to support recovery. Ask only what is clinically necessary and always provide the patient with the option to not answer. |