Barriers to access to mental health care services in the Cape Metropole, faced by refugee and asylum seeker women who have been exposed to trauma

Abstract

Through use of a phenomenological design, this qualitative study investigated barriers to accessing mental health care by female refugees living in the Cape Metropole who have mental health problems as a result of exposure to trauma. A high number of female refugees in the Cape Metropole have been exposed to trauma. This study aims to contribute to the limited literature on this topic. The objectives of the study were to identify whether female refugees faced barriers to accessing mental health services in the Cape and if they did, the nature of these barriers. The findings identified that at the service-delivery level, language, under-resourced mental health services, documentation barriers and lack of awareness of refugees' rights were the biggest barriers. The main barriers in the refugee communities were cultural and religious, fear and lack of awareness and work and childcare responsibilities. The study highlights that not only is the South African government obliged under international, regional and national laws to fulfil female refugees' right to access mental health services, but it is in the state's best interests to do so.