| dc.description.abstract | This research investigates the legal and social challenges faced by LGBTQ+ asylum seekers in the Netherlands and their impact on mental health. LGBTQ+ individuals often experience discrimination and persecution in their home countries, only to face similar struggles within the Dutch asylum system. Using qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews, the study explores how legal obstacles such as unequal procedures, long waiting times, and a lack of cultural sensitivity during interviews increase the psychological stress of LGBTQ+ asylum seekers.
Findings reveal that many LGBTQ+ asylum seekers endure harassment, bullying, and violence within asylum centers, where they are often placed in unsafe environments. Some are forced to hide their identities to avoid conflict, effectively "going back into the closet." Legal discrimination, including inconsistent asylum procedures, further increases their mental health challenges. Institutional support from organizations like COA and VWN is insufficient, and while specialized LGBTQ+ units are intended to provide safety, they often increase the risk of discrimination due to heightened visibility.
Even after acquiring asylum status, LGBTQ+ asylum seekers continue to face mental health and financial difficulties, feeling less valued on the job market. Although some coping mechanisms exist, many still experience suicidal thoughts and significant mental health burdens. The research concludes that the Dutch asylum system, despite its strong stance on LGBTQ+ rights, fails to adequately help the mental health of LGBTQ+ asylum seekers. | |
