Psychodynamic ideas are used to think about social work with an asylum-seeking young woman with mental health problems. Questions are raised about her needs and our response to them in relation to her individual history, the organisation and the wider socio-economic context. These lead to reflections on adolescence and the leaving care task, non-dependence, loss of home and homelessness, fear of madness, attitudes to difference and asylum seekers and institutional racism. Failure and learning from it is also a theme. © 2005 GAPS.

Mental health Leaving care Non-dependence Asylum seeker Adolescence

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