World Refugee Day 2024

During Refugee Week and particularly on World Refugee Day, it’s good to stop and highlight the resilience and contribution of the millions of people globally and in the UK who have been forced to flee their homes. This year’s themes focused around promoting refugee-sensitive health systems and Home and the Peer MIST project is hoping to contribute to the building of both.

The Peer MIST project is looking to adapt an existing physical movement intervention for use in Wales. The intervention aims to mental health and physical health symptoms that are experienced by many people seeking sanctuary.

Research likes this involves a whole community of individuals, including academics, staff from third sector organisations, and those with lived experience of being an asylum seeker. In the spirit of highlighting the contributions of those seeking sanctuary, Dr Tinuola Gunwan has shared her experience of being involved in the Peer MIST project:

It’s the world refugee day on 20^th June and there could not have been a better time to talk about my involvement with the Peer MIST project. Having being an asylum seeker myself, this project is very dear to my heart.

My journey on this project so far has been both enlightening and enriching. I held high hopes for personal growth, and contributing to a project that is potentially able to improve the lives of a group of people who are considerably underserved in healthcare. With some research background, I was quite curious to see how this is different from a typical research project. The experience has been truly transformative and I’m pleased to say that my expectations have been exceeded.

Every step of this project has been met with professionalism, care and thoughtful consideration by the dedicated team. From the initial discussions to the current phase, I’ve felt supported, well informed and valued. The opportunity to be part of cutting-edge clinical trial is not only personally fulfilling but also a chance to make a real difference in the mental, physical and overall wellbeing of Sanctuary seekers who have experienced trauma.

Beyond personal growth, my ultimate aspiration is that my involvement in this project will pave the way for these interventions to be well received within the healthcare system and that through this, I will be better equipped to build a support system that incorporates these interventions in my everyday practice as a Psychiatrist, ensuring that refugees and asylum seekers are beneficiaries in the near future. I am honored to be able to play a role in this impactful project!

The Peer MIST project is also supported by the Welsh Refugee Council, Swansea University, Centre for Victims of Torture, and the Cardiff & Vale Health Inclusion Team. It is funded by Health and Care research Wales.