Thread by @DaaroYouth

At least 11 unaccompanied teenage boys, from Eritrea, Ethiopia and Afghanistan, have taken their own lives after arriving in the UK. We have written to Nadine Dorries, Minister for suicide prevention, along with 46 other organisations, demanding an inquiry. #11TooMany

We are gravely concerned that these deaths are only the tip of an iceberg, because there is no transparency from the government about deaths by suicide in the asylum system or among children in care.

There is no publicly available data. The government is not asking local authorities to alert them about deaths of care-leavers.

These deaths are a tragedy and a national scandal. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of these teenage boys - we want their grief and pain to be heard by this government.

Osman died aged 19 in London after fearing that he would be sent back to his home country where he had been imprisoned and tortured as a child. Osman was failed by social services and by the NHS Trust tasked with his care.
theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/n…

Osman’s mum and dad have said: “Our son had a future. He was smart and brilliant. We hear that in Europe people have human rights. We are completely devastated and have not recovered from Osman’s death…. If I had been with Osman I would have held him in my arms.”

Alexander was failed by multiple local authorities tasked with his care – and the Home Office who dropped his claim for asylum, leaving him undocumented. He died alone in his home, 3 months after his 18th birthday.
theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

Mulu struggled with alcohol consumption and had symptoms of psychosis after the deaths of his friends by suicide. He was moved out of London and away from his support network and friends by social services.
theguardian.com/society/2021/a…

The serious nature of Mulu’s mental health issues were not recognised by mental health professionals. He died aged 19 years old in Milton Keynes.

There have been many more young asylum-seekers and refugees who have taken their lives. How has this happened? What happened to them? We are demanding an inquiry.

This government believes there is a refugee crisis at our border. But there is not. There is a refugee *protection* crisis.

Every year, lone children and young people travel to the UK to reach safety after fleeing conflict and repression. On their journeys to the UK they often experience abuse and suffer trauma.

What they find when they arrive here is often a system that is indifferent, or unwilling to care for them and to help them recover from that trauma.

They experience a hostile environment for migrants and asylum-seekers. Too often they are failed by an underfunded care system and mental health services unable to meet their needs.

The media & the Home Office need to answer for the xenophobia that has been whipped up against asylum-seekers. The delays and hostility that are inbuilt into the asylum system are torturous. The governments new plan for asylum will only increase hostility these young people face.

We are demanding justice for these boys. Nadine Dorries – we call for an inquiry to save lives. #Justiceforrefugees #11TooMany

In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or by emailing [e-mail] or [e-mail]. If you are feeling low or like you want to hurt yourself please reach out to them. You are not alone ❤️