People suffering from psychological disorders
Some asylum seekers suffer from psychological disorders, whether or not related to the facts they are indicating in their application for asylum. These can be, for example, post-traumatic stress, memory loss or depression.
In order to deal with this situation, the CGRS has a ‘Psychological Support Section’. This section consists of a psychologist whose main task it is to advise protection officers on the mental and psychological state of asylum seekers, when this state could have an effect on the processing of the asylum seeker’s application, for instance on the interview or on the decision.
The functioning of this section was determined in accordance with the applicable legal and deontological guidelines.
Protection officers can consult the psychologist:
- before the interview, if the application file contains indications that the asylum seeker may suffer from psychological disorders and, as a consequence, the caseworker expects problems;
- during or after the interview, if the asylum seeker’s mental state is so fragile that it makes a serene or objective processing of the case impossible.
The psychologist can then initiate an individual psychological examination. Based on this examination, he/she will then write a detailed evaluation report. After that, the psychologist will give advice to the protection officer on whether the person in question can or cannot be heard.
If it is decided to invite the asylum seeker for a psychological evaluation, a copy of the invitation will be sent to his/her lawyer. The invitation must clearly state that the asylum seeker is allowed to refuse the evaluation without this having consequences for the further processing of his/her case.
