A trauma clinic in Birmingham, operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), has received more than 300 referrals since it opened in July 2025. The centre offers specialised trauma-focused psychological care for refugees and asylum seekers in the city and surrounding areas.
The clinic was established to address the “unmet mental healthcare needs of those seeking sanctuary.” It has conducted 521 consultations for patients, many of whom have survived conflict, persecution, torture, and other forms of violence.
Data shared by MSF indicates that among 170 case files reviewed, 88% documented experiences of violence. Additionally, one in three patients detailed suicidal thoughts when they first sought help from the charity.
A clinical psychologist at the clinic noted that patients frequently express fear regarding the environment in the UK, citing increasingly hostile attitudes towards migrants. MSF staff also reported that the mental health struggles of their patients are compounded by rising “hostility and anti-migrant sentiment in the UK.”
Fouzia Bara, a migration programme manager at MSF, emphasised the importance of providing intensive psychological treatment in countries where refugees and asylum seekers hope to settle. She stated, “Birmingham is the safe place where we can start the healing process.”