Stateless people around the world face profound challenges that affect not just their nationality or immigration status, but also their daily lives, sense of identity, and mental and physical wellbeing. Peer spaces —places where people with shared experiences come together— have been shown to support the mental health of other groups in situations of vulnerability. However, no research has studied stateless people’s experiences of peer spaces. A University College London research project is now undertaking a study to look at this area. As part of this work, the study is currently recruiting participants with lived experience of statelessness to be interviewed as a part of this research.
Why peer spaces matter for stateless people’s wellbeing: a University College London research project
Stateless people around the world face profound challenges that affect not just their nationality or immigration status, but also their daily lives, sense of identity, and mental and physical wellbeing. Peer spaces —places where people with shared experiences come together— have been shown to support the mental health of other groups in situations of vulnerability. However, no research has studied stateless people’s experiences of peer spaces. A University College London research project is now undertaking a study to look at this area. As part of this work, the study is currently recruiting participants with lived experience of statelessness to be interviewed as a part of this research.
What are peer spaces, and why do they matter?
A ‘peer space’ is any environment where people connect with others who share similar experiences. These could include campaign or advocacy groups, community meetups, mental health workshops, research collectives, or educational spaces. Amongst others, examples include the monthly community meetings hosted by the European Network on Statelessness, community meetings or events hosted by State Free, or attending classes delivered by people with lived experiences of statelessness at the Rohingya Graduation for Hope Institution.
As well as lacking any citizenship, stateless people often lack other fundamental rights like access to healthcare, education, or legal employment, and may have experienced traumatic events, whether in a former country of residence or origin, during a migration experience, or in the country where they live. These compounding experiences mean that stateless people are particularly vulnerable to poor mental health outcomes. As such, research that helps improve understanding of how best to support the mental wellbeing of people with lived experience of statelessness is vital.
Research evidence from different population groups suggests that peer support positively impacts the wellbeing of those receiving it, providing culturally responsive emotional, social and practical support. Peer spaces offer opportunities to connect, share strategies, build confidence, and shape collective action. Previous research from University College London (pending publication) suggests that peer support may provide a valuable source of support for stateless individuals, particularly where they face barriers to accessing public services. However, there is no published research specifically exploring the value of peer spaces for individuals affected by statelessness.
The research: how you can get involved
This study aims to build the first evidence base on how peer spaces impact the wellbeing of stateless people. We are interviewing people with lived experience of statelessness who have taken part in—or helped to organise or deliver—any kind of peer space. We want to understand what makes these spaces feel useful and supportive; what challenges people encounter; and what they would change to make these spaces work better. Participants will be reimbursed for their time.
The study is still welcoming participants who meet these criteria:
- Over 18 years old;
- Have lived experience of statelessness;
- Have taken part in or helped organise/deliver any kind of peer space.
If you or someone you know might be interested, please contact Ellie at ellie.oppenheim.23@ucl.ac.uk.
Why does this research matter?
The research offers people affected by statelessness an opportunity to share their experiences to improve peer spaces and wellbeing support for others. We hope that the findings might provide evidence for organisations to demonstrate the value and impact of peer spaces, highlight the need for greater investment, training, and resources, and inform the development of mental health support beyond peer-led initiatives.
If participants wish, the research team will share the findings and outcomes of the project with them in an accessible format to demonstrate how their contribution has shaped and informed the project and its impact. Additionally, if participants choose, we will keep them updated with any future research opportunities, providing an ongoing opportunity to shape the research base for people with lived experience of statelessness.
About the researchers
This project and the research interviews are being conducted by Ellie Oppenheim, who is a Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student at University College London. Ellie’s work focused on exploring the role of peer spaces in supporting the mental wellbeing of stateless people. Francesca Brady is also involved in the project. She is a Clinical Psychologist working with people affected by forced migration in the UK National Health Service (NHS) and the Helen Bamber Foundation.
