Guidance

Physical and mental health support available for people seeking asylum (accessible)

Updated 16 April 2026

Who is this for?

This document is for asylum seekers who have concerns about their physical or mental health.

What healthcare can I receive?

The National Health Service (NHS) is the government funded healthcare service that everyone living in the UK can use without being asked to pay the full cost of the service. You are entitled to see a doctor (GP) and have NHS provided hospital care without charge. You may also be entitled to free or low-cost medication. Further information is available at: NHS entitlements: migrant health guide - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Will healthcare support affect my asylum claim?

Your claim will not be negatively affected by any illness or health treatment you receive.

Home Office role

The Home Office supports asylum seekers with issues relating to the asylum process. Health matters shared with the Home Office may be considered when processing asylum claims and assessing accommodation needs. The Home Office does not offer physical or mental health support.

Migrant Help role

Migrant Help supports with issues relating to accommodation and financial support -

Asylum advice and guidance - Migrant Help (migranthelpuk.org) (open 24/7/365): 0808 8010 503.

Additional services

Here is a list of other services, from non-governmental organisations, which provide information and support to asylum seekers. You may be able to request an interpreter to help access services. Please contact these organisations for more information.

The Refugee Council

The Refugee Council works with people seeking asylum in the UK. The Refugee Council https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/ provides advice, therapeutic and practical support to help people settle.

They also specialise in working with children who arrive in the UK alone. If you are under 18, please call the separated children line on 0808 175 3499 (Monday – Friday 8.30am-5.30pm).

Call the Infoline freephone 0808 196 7272 (Monday & Thursday 9.30am-12.30pm.)

‘My View’ – Children’s service

My View Children’s therapy service is a safe, confidential place for young people to access wellbeing support through talking, individual creative work, or group therapeutic support. The service is offered in different parts of the country. Please visit our website for more information:https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/get support/services/my-view-childrens-therapy/

Barnardo’s

Barnardo’s supports children, young people, and families, including those seeking sanctuary in the UK. Their services include:

• Ubuntu Project (Hertfordshire, Scotland, Northern Ireland): Builds community capacity by connecting organisations supporting newly arrived children, young people, and families.
• Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship Service (ICTG) (selected areas in England and across Wales): Provides specialist support to children who are victims of modern slavery or trafficking, including asylum-seeking children.
• Welcome Service (Scotland): Offers family support to asylum seeking families.
• Refugee Support Service (Northern Ireland): Connects asylum seeking and refugee families with local services.
• Independent Guardian Service (IGS) (Northern Ireland): Supports Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children.
• Supported Accommodation Service (Northern Ireland): Provides accommodation and tailored support for unaccompanied children and young people aged 16–21.

British Red Cross

The British Red Cross offers emergency help, one-to-one support & casework and help reuniting families. The British Red Cross does not provide immigration advice. The British Red Cross are a UK-wide service.

For more information contact your local office: https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help/get-help-as a-refugee/contact-your-local-refugee-service

Every Mind Matters Loneliness

The NHS provides practical advice and tips to reduce loneliness, and details of supportive organisations.

Website: https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/lifes-challenges/loneliness

Other services

Domestic abuse helplines

England

Refuge’s freephone 24-hour national domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247

Live chat service: Monday to Friday, 3pm to 10pm

Wales

Live Fear Free helpline: 0808 80 10 800

Scotland

Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage helpline: 0800 027 1234

Northern Ireland

Women’s Aid Northern Ireland: 0808 802 1414

Men

Men’s advice line: 0808 801 0327

Galop (LGBTQI)

https://galop.org.uk/ Call 0800 999 5428

Emergency response service

Call 999 or 112 if someone is seriously ill or injured, and their life is at risk.

Call 111 for non-life-threatening medical support.

Suicide prevention helplines

Papyrus - Prevention Of Young Suicide

https://www.papyrus-uk.org/ Call 0800 068 41 41

Samaritans

https://www.samaritans.org/ Call 116 123

Freedom from Torture

Centres in London, Birmingham, Newcastle, Manchester, and Glasgow supporting UK‑based torture survivors with:

• Therapy: one‑to‑one and group support for PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
• Wellbeing activities: art, music, gardening, football, and cooking.
• Health support: assessments and pain management, including physiotherapy.
• Medico‑legal reports for asylum claims: https://www.freedomfromtorture.org/help-for survivors/medico-legal-reports
• Legal and practical support: help with lawyers, asylum processes, detention issues, housing, education, finances, and social care.

Contact: 020 7697 7777

Website: www.freedomfromtorture.org/contact-us

Helen Bamber Foundation

The Helen Bamber Foundation is a specialist clinical and human rights charity that works with survivors of trafficking, torture, and other forms of extreme human cruelty.

Their multidisciplinary and clinical team provide integrated care for survivors which includes:

• Medico-legal documentation of physical and psychological injuries
• Evidence-based specialist therapeutic care
• A medical advisory service
• A counter-trafficking programme
• Housing and welfare advice
• Legal protection advice
• Community integration activities.

Website: www.helenbamber.org/refer

Micro Rainbow

Micro Rainbow supports LGBTQI refugees and people seeking asylum in the UK. Micro Rainbow’s holistic approach to integration is based on three pillars: safe housing, social inclusion, and employability support. These programmes ensure that our beneficiaries are not only safe but also able to live fulfilling, independent lives. They offer:

• Safe housing and housing advice.
• Social inclusion activities and community events.
• Move‑on and employability support to help LGBTQI refugees transition to independence.

Website: www.microrainbow.org Helpline: 0800 358 5851

Services in Northern Ireland

Advice and support, including healthcare, housing, employment, and access to education, is available for refugees and asylum seekers.

Website: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/asylum-seekers-and-refugees-help-and-advice.

Doctors of the World

Doctors of the World provides information and practical support to asylum seekers to register with a GP and for those who have NHS services withheld under the NHS Charging Regulations. They run an advice line, outreach services and advocacy programmes.

Telephone: 0808 164 7686

Scottish Refugee Council (SRC) (services only in Scotland)

• Family Rights Service: for families with children, including pregnant women and single parents. Email: families@scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk
• Destitution Service: Assists refused asylum seekers who are known as ARE (Appeal Rights Exhausted). Email: destitution@scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk
• Refugee Integration Service: supports new refugees granted any form of leave to remain. https://www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk/direct-support/support-for-new-refugees/

Freephone helpline: 080 8196 7274 information and advice on refugee and asylum issues. (Mon to Fri 9am-5pm).

Welsh Refugee Council (WRC) (services only in Wales)

Provides advice, support, advocacy and signposting for refugees and asylum seekers in Wales.

Helpline: 0808 196 7273

Website: https://wrc.wales

Services include:

• Wales Sanctuary Service: Support with navigating the asylum system.
• Ukraine Support: Help accessing housing, services, and education.
• Move On Support: Assistance for newly recognised refugees with housing, entitlements, employment, and banking.
• eVisa Support: Help transitioning from BRP/visa documents to digital eVisa.
• Education & Employability: Guidance on UK education and work pathways.
• Single Advice Fund: Support on housing, debt, discrimination, employment, and welfare benefits.
• Housing & Homelessness: Advice, guidance, and housing information workshops.
• Play Project: Safe play spaces for sanctuary-seeking families in Cardiff.
• Sanctuary Coalition Cymru: Network of organisations and lived-experience experts supporting sanctuary seekers in Wales.

Conversation Over Borders

Offers free, online English mentoring and digital support for people seeking asylum and refugees in the UK. Services include one-to-one English mentoring, online group classes and access to devices and SIM cards to reduce digital exclusion. They also run regular online peer support groups, including:

• Weekly Farsi-speaking peer support group
• Weekly LGBTQ+ peer support group
• Weekly peer support group for young people (aged 16–21)

NHS 111 crisis mental health support

The NHS offer access to a 24/7 package of mental health crisis support through a single phone line.

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental health-services/where-to-get-urgent help-for-mental-health/

Refugee Action

Refugee Action supports refugees & people seeking asylum in several locations across England. Website: https://www.refugee-action.org.uk/our-services/help-and-advice/

• Asylum Crisis (London, Manchester, West Midlands, Bradford – families only): Helps asylum seekers who need accommodation or financial support, or whose support has been refused or stopped.
• BRAVE Project (Bradford): An experts-by-experience–led integration and wellbeing programme for asylum seekers, with a particular focus on families.
• Wellbeing Programme: Delivered with Solace, offering one-to-one therapy for refugees and asylum seekers experiencing trauma, plus weekly wellbeing group sessions for those with lower-level or additional support needs.
• National Immigration Advice Service (NIAS): Provides OISC Level 3 immigration advice and casework for vulnerable asylum seekers and migrants using Asylum Crisis services in London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Bradford, with direct referrals also accepted from Bradford.