Investigating factors affecting mental health of asylum-seeker women in Aegean region

The purpose of this study is to find out the factors affecting mental health of asylum-seeker women in the Aegean Region. Thirty-two asylum-seeker women, who have approached the Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Migrants (ASAM) for counselling, participated in this study voluntarily. In this research, information was gathered from face to face interviews in which a semi-structured questionnaire interviewing socio-demographic information was used as a data collection tool. The information was evaluated in detail within the scope of clinical psychology and factors influencing the mental health of asylum-seeker women were identified based on those women's experiences and perceptions - also considering their nationality, ethnic and socio-cultural background. The most influential factors on the mental health of asylum-seeker women were identified as economical and security related problems, followed by language barriers, education, social and cultural differences. It was also observed that pre-migration, migration and post-migration experiences have a significant impact on their mental health. After examining the influential factors for asylum-seeker women's mental health within the scope of clinical psychology, it was concluded that traumatic experiences during the pre-migration, migration and post-migration stages can result in mental problems, notably Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety disorders. The findings and limitations of this study were compared with the relevant literature, and the recommendations are discussed accordingly. Keywords: Asylum-seeker, Women, Immigration, Mental Health, Trauma