Adaptation After Torture: Some Thoughts on the Long-Term Effects of Surviving a Repressive Regime

H has considered suicide as a realistic option on several occasions in the last 10 years. He is one of the thousands of asylum seekers in the United Kingdom who have recently been discussed in parliament. Whilst listening to the politicians debate the “tide of refugees” and “bogus asylum claims” it is easy to forget that behind the statistics lie real lives and continuing suffering. It is also easy to think that any suffering inflicted is done in far-away countries and therefore has no link with our own government.