BERTS is a dedicated trauma service hosted by Brighton & Hove CBT, for refugees, asylum seekers and destitute migrants in Sussex. BERTS is a no-cost service. It is a purely voluntary service run for the benefit of the community.

We offer free specialist trauma counselling and psychotherapy to local people to help them come to terms with their relocation in the UK, after what can be very difficult experiences for themselves and their families in their countries of origin. All of our staff are unpaid and volunteer their time for free.

Refugees, asylum seekers and destitute migrants are much more likely to suffer from mental health problems than the general population, as a result of traumatic experiences. Migration itself can also cause significant mental health problems, in cultural and social readjustment, and in facing the isolation and sometimes poverty that being alone in a new country can cause. Depression and anxiety, and serious illnesses like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, are very common with this group, and NHS provision of care is limited and local NHS services are overstretched.

Refugees, asylum seekers and destitute migrants often come to the UK after experiencing terrible life histories, and the asylum process itself can provoke further mental suffering, as conditions for asylum seekers and refugees in this country are very difficult, particularly if they have been kept in poor housing conditions or in a detention centre. Refugees also can experience several last minute displacement to strange towns, and also local racism whilst in the UK, which makes things even more challenging. Many refugees have a real sense of fear about the possibility that their asylum claim might be refused and find themselves isolated and separated from loves ones and unable to cope.

Therapists offer to donate some of their clinical hours every week to the project, and local organisations have kindly donated premises. The clinical referrals and liaison is also done by volunteer practitioners. This means that we can provide mental health support for free to qualifying service users.

Brighton Exiled/Refugee Trauma Service key personnel are:

Chair: Sally R Munt
Trustee: Colin Blowers
Trustee: Reem A O Abushawareb
Trustee: Tessa Axelrod
Trustee: Lizzy West

Most of our psychotherapists, psychologists and counsellors work with Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy, and EMDR, they also have expertise in working with trauma and survivors of torture, sexual and political violence.

We expect normally treatment to last from 12-26 weekly sessions, based on your clinical assessment, although under certain circumstances our team may agree that this can be extended.

You are eligible for free psychotherapy treatment if you are a refugee or asylum seeker.

Normally, you need to be over 16 years of age, although we can provide support to those younger than this in exceptional cases and if there is clinical availability. You need to have lived in the UK for less than 10 years.

Unfortunately we do not yet have funding to provide an interpreter service so all sessions are conducted in English. Psychotherapy with an interpreter present can also be problematic in terms of clients feeling safe enough to disclose sensitive information. Occasionally, social services are able to provide an interpreter if the refugee/asylum seeker is a young person receiving support from them.

See also:

Migrant English Project
The Migrant English Project provides free and informal English lessons for asylum seekers, refugees and migrants on Mondays 10.30am until 3.30pm (10:30 – 15:30) at Exeter Street Hall, 16-17 Exeter Street, Brighton BN1 5PG.

Email: mepbrighton12@googlemail.com
Website: mepbrighton.com


Sussex Interpreting Services
Sussex Interpreting Services offers a range of support services which are free to all refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. These services include community interpreting, bilingual advocacy, a health promotion project, and translation.

Telephone: 01273 702005 | 07811 459315 (for emergencies, always open)
Email: info@sussexinterpreting.org.uk | interpreting@sussexinterpreting.org.uk | translation@sussexinterpreting.org.uk
Website: www.sussexinterpreting.org.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sis.interpreting.services
Twitter: twitter.com/sussexinterpret
Address: Community Base, 113 Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XG

Initially, you will need to talk to a local organisation such as statutory services (for example Social Services if you have a social worker) or a local refugee organisation such as Voices in Exile, Refugee Radio, or Lewes Refugee Support. Any referral to BERTS should be made on our BERTS REFERRAL FORM (Word document) which is usually filled in by a health, voluntary, or social services professional, or local refugee organisation, in conversation with the client directly.

Please email the completed form to s.r.munt@sussex.ac.uk or, if you are unsure of how to do this or need more help, please contact us for advice using the same email address.

We do not discuss your referral or your mental health needs with anyone in your community, the Home Office or anyone else, and your information is safe. If there is a risk of harm to yourself, or to others, we would normally inform your doctor or in case of children being at risk, the relevant social service or NSPCC. We would normally discuss first with you if we felt that their was a risk of harm. Our service is completely separate from the Home Office procedures and we do not send any information to them, unless you request it.

All our psychotherapists have an Enhanced DBS check (formerly the CRB check) for working with vulnerable persons. We work to the professional standards, policies and procedures of the BABCP, and uphold NHS standard criteria for careful governance and standards.

Many women and men have experienced sexual or gender-based violence as part of their refugee journey. We are sensitive to this, and experienced in understanding the trauma this can cause, and hope to provide a safe space for you to talk about it, if you would like to.

After you have got a referral, we will be in contact with you to arrange an assessment of your needs. Then you will be offered an appointment with one of our therapists, which will usually be at the same time each week. It is important that you keep us up to date with your mobile phone number and address so we can maintain contact. More information about mental health support for refugees can be found in the MIND report.

Refugee Therapy Centre
Brighton Voices in Exile
Refugee Action
The Refugee Council
United Kingdom Lesbian & Gay Immigration Group
Refugee week in Brighton & Hove
Brighton and Hove City of Sanctuary
Brighton and Hove City of Sanctuary Facebook
Local directory of services for refugees and migrants
How to help refugees in Brighton and Hove (brighton-hove.gov.uk)

For additional help and support:

Refugee Radio
Refugee Radio provides a weekly support group around mental health, as well as outreach and advice. It also produces radio with refugees and asylum seekers for their stories to be heard.
Email: info@refugeeradio.org.uk
Website: www.refugeeradio.org.uk
Facebook: facebook.com/Refugee-Radio
Address: Community Base, Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XG

Sussex Refugee Solidarity
Sussex Refugee Solidarity is a local community support and action group for refugees, set up by parents in Sussex. It is a forum which aims to set out what we can offer to refugees resettling in East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove.
Website:www.sussexrefugeesolidarity.uk

Download a detailed local guide to services for asylum seekers and refugees in the city.