| dc.description.abstract | Regardless of nationality or legal status, human rights apply to all individuals everywhere.
However, undocumented people living in Sweden without a permit to stay in the country, are
having a difficult time gaining access to basic human rights, such as the right to health care.
Due to their irregular status, they often live under harsh conditions with fear of being deported.
These are factors that causes undocumented to live outside of the society and outside of the
safety net that entails being a Swedish citizen. This further contributes to major negative
effects on their well-being and mental health. The current legislation for rights to health care
for undocumented in Sweden suggests “treatment that cannot be deferred”. This is problematic
in several ways and especially when it comes to mental health care, following current national
and global stigmatization of mental illness. Due to the vulnerable situation of the
undocumented in the Swedish society, which is affecting their daily life and well-being, the
need to ensure proper mental health care is of importance.
Through interviews with professionals in the field working daily with undocumented people,
this thesis aims to broaden the understanding of undocumented people’s situation in Sweden
and the challenges to access mental health care. The thesis is based on empirical collected
material using a theoretical framework that includes social networks, cultural competency and
the role of citizenship. Results show that barriers, such as structural violence, fear, financial
difficulties and lack of cultural awareness, as well as lack of knowledge about undocumented
rights within the health care system, are prominent and profound. To ensure equal and good
mental health care for undocumented in Sweden, the need for deepened knowledge, awareness
and improved legislation are important. Attention and an increased awareness for the situation
of the undocumented in the Swedish society is vital for every person’s equal right to health and
to assure that human rights applies to all. | en_US |
