We believe that quality legal representation for refugees requires an understanding of mental health needs and their effects. Where relevant, it requires addressing the impact of mental health as part of legal representation and access to fair legal procedures. As part of its Therapeutic Legal Assistance Model, AMERA is working to strengthen the use of mental health assessments and reports in legal processes.
Training
AMERA International believes quality legal representation for refugees necessitates an understanding of mental health needs and their effects. Where relevant, it requires addressing the impact of mental health as part of legal representation and access to fair legal procedures. As part of its Therapeutic Legal Assistance Model, AMERA is working to strengthen the use of mental health assessments and reports in legal processes.
- Medico-legal reports – background and wider use
- Refugee status determination and durable solutions for refugees – trauma, mental health and their implications
- Coordinating with legal representatives
- Report templates
- Assessments, tools, guidelines and references
- Symptoms and diagnosis
- Clinical implications and recommendations
- Understanding trauma, identifying mental health needs, acknowledging implications
- Instructing mental health practitioners
- Guidelines, standards, best practices, and references for incorporating mental health needs and reports in legal representation
Resources
AMERA has released a resource summarising references and background information for lawyers representing refugees with mental health needs and for mental health professionals conducting medico-legal assessments and reports. Find the resource here:
AMERA can support the development of systems, tools, and procedures to implement trauma and mental health-informed legal practices. This can include:
- Screening tools for legal practitioners to identify clients with mental health needs
- Referral procedures
- Mental health report templates
We have a range of further information on the use of medico-legal reports in legal processes. See Rights in Exile:
Identifying mental health practitioners for reports
Not all legal representatives have access to or the resources for mental health services for timely assessments and the provision of quality mental health reports. There may also be times when specialised mental health practitioners are needed.
AMERA International is operating a bank of practitioners globally (psychologists, psychiatrists, and other specialists – such as those specialising in certain neurodevelopment disorders) who may be available upon request to provide low cost or free of charge assessment and report services. These services could be in person or provided remotely (online), depending on the circumstances.
Please contact us if:
- You are a mental health professional and you would like to be added to our list of specialists
- You are a legal aid practitioner and you would like support identifying a suitable provider to conduct an assessment and prepare a report.
If you are interested in any of our available services to strengthen the inclusion of mental health in legal processes, please contact tlam@amerainternational.org.