Researchers have found that Britain's hostile environmental policies have a psychological impact on black CaribbeansHealthThe impact is more severe than the impact of coronavirus lockdowns on the wider population.
The study, conducted by academics at University College London and funded by Wellcome**, used longitudinal data from 58,087 people, of whom more than 2,000 participants were from black Caribbean backgrounds.
Between 2009 and 2020, participants completed a General Health Questionnaire to screen for mental health problems, and the results were used to measure overall psychological distress, including symptoms of depression and anxiety.
The study found that after the implementation of the Immigration Act in 2014, there was a significant increase in psychological distress among black Caribbeans in the UK compared to whites.
This difference decreased by 0. on a mental health scale of 1-367 points, which is more than the mental health decline of the entire UK population during the first coronavirus lockdown in 2020.
The study also showed a further increase in psychological distress among black Caribbeans compared to whites in the wake of the 2017 "Wind of the Wind" scandal**.
According to the study, in the United Kingdom, psychological distress has increased among people of black Caribbean descent due to poor environmental policies, a figure that is two to four times greater than the impact of youth unemployment on psychological distress in the general population observed in other studies.
The hostile environmental policy was developed by then-Home Secretary Theresa May, who said in 2012 that "the aim is to create a truly hostile environment for illegal immigrants in the UK". These policies were introduced in the Immigration Act 2014 and aim to restrict access to jobs, benefits, bank accounts, driving licences and other essential services for those who cannot prove they have legal residency in the UK.
The researchers added that the findings suggest that in the UK, there is a causal relationship between poor environmental policies and the Windrush scandal, which has led to higher levels of psychological distress among black Caribbeans.
Lead author Dr. Anne Jeffrey said the study highlighted "the harm that hostile environmental policies have caused to the mental health of certain populations."
"The impact on mental health can stem from the direct impact of these threats on people's families and livelihoods, but it can also stem from the broader, pervasive racial injustice and prejudice faced by a group that has already experienced systemic, sometimes institutionalized, racism and discrimination," Jeffrey added. ”
When the Windrush scandal is in the news, some people may be at risk of being traumatized again, while even those who are not directly affected may experience some form of indirect trauma or fear of what might happen to them. ”
Professor James Kirkbride, a co-author of the study, said the findings "show that policies can generate, sustain and exacerbate systemic inequalities in mental health".
"Policymakers should consider the impact of immigration policies on mental health, as they will affect not only future immigrants or those who do not have visas, but also those who have already settled in the country legally, so they should design these policies to minimise all harms, including mental health inequalities," he added. ”