Acculturation and the mental health of young refugees resettled under the humanitarian Gateway Protection Programme in Greater Manchester

Globally, the extensive exodus of individuals who have been forced to flee their home countries and seek refuge in countries of safety has led to a refugee crisis. The United Kingdom (UK) has engaged with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in playing a significant role in the long-term resettlement of some of those refugees, half of whom are children and young people. One initiative of such humanitarian resettlement in the UK is the Gateway Protection Programme (GPP). To-date, there is a global dearth of studies investigating aspects of acculturation that affect the mental health of young refugees resettled under the UNHCR humanitarian programme. In the UK, while current mental health policy recognises refugee children and young people as a priority group for mental health promotion and prevention; little is known about the impact of acculturation on the mental health of young refugees resettled under GPP.This study aimed to explore aspects of acculturation that could enhance the mental health of GPP young refugees several years after they have resettled in Greater Manchester. Using qualitative narrative research, a purposive sample of 31 GPP young refugees who had a minimum of three years stay in Greater Manchester were recruited from local Refugee Community Organisations. Data was collected through a multi-method design which combined Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with Visual Arts-Based Narrative Research (VABNR) and analysed thematically.Four overarching themes emerged from the data; People and places; Finding self; Its nearly all new to me; With me in mind. Schachner et al.’s (2017) Integrative Framework was used as a conceptual framework to aid discussion of the findings of this study.This novel study contributes important knowledge to the dearth of existent literature regarding the mental wellbeing of young people who have engaged in a resettlement programme and offers valuable information for UK policy makers and professionals working with, and providing care to GPP young refugees.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral (Level 8)

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Mulongo, P

Language dc:language

en

Identifier

oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1365453

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1365453