Melinda Mo-Martinez has called for more to be done to help those in need
17:18, 10 May 2026Updated 17:25, 10 May 2026
Supporters of Sheffield’s status as a City of Sanctuary at a rally held outside Sheffield Town Hall(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
A leading campaigner at City of Sanctuary Sheffield is demanding urgent action following a series of suicides among asylum seekers in the city.
Melinda Mo-Martinez, the organisation’s advocacy and system change coordinator, spoke out after a young woman was discovered dead two months ago in city accommodation designated for asylum seekers. She revealed that three asylum seekers have taken their own lives in Sheffield within less than a year.
Melinda learnt of the death from the young woman who found the body in their shared accommodation. The young woman confided in Melinda that she feels profoundly traumatised, is frightened of being alone, and struggles to sleep or concentrate on her studies.
Melinda said: “We don’t even know her name. If this girl didn’t speak to me about it, how would we know about this situation?”
“How many have died and they just keep that quiet?” Melinda is raising concerns about what safeguarding measures exist to protect vulnerable individuals.
She said there is no official national register documenting deaths of asylum seekers in the UK. She estimates that approximately 50 people have died in recent years, with the majority being teenagers or young adults.
A discussion among campaigners from City of Sanctuary Sheffield(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
She said: “People seeking asylum are going through a triple trauma.
“The first one is due to what happened to them in their home country, the second one is due to the difficult journey to find safety in the UK due to the lack of safe routes, and the third one is due to a violent and hostile asylum system.
“A range of studies have evidenced that the mental health of those seeking asylum is poorer than that of the general population. PTSD, anxiety and depression are common issues within this group.
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“However, factors like problems with substandard asylum accommodation, the ban on work, challenges to have access to healthcare, isolation, poverty and the uncertainty of their asylum claims, which can take even 20 years, are worsening their mental health.”
She said while the government acknowledges the vulnerability of this population, it persists in enforcing hostile immigration policies that have a catastrophic impact on people’s wellbeing.
Melinda highlighted the concerns of City of Sanctuary Sheffield during a recent meeting with Alex Norris, the government minister for border security and asylum, which was also attended by Sheffield Central MP Abtisam Mohamed and other charities working in the sector. She said: “Our recommendations would be, firstly, to create a local and national database of people seeking asylum who commit suicide. Secondly, policies that respect human rights and bring community cohesions.
Campaigners from City of Sanctuary Sheffield on a protest(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
“And finally, better collaboration between statutory and non-statutory agencies in our city involving local authorities, health services, Home Office, asylum accommodation providers and partner organisations to implement a strategy that improves the support for people seeking sanctuary within our community to avoid more deaths.
” Sheffield City Council must be involved,” Melinda stated. “If we are the first UK City of Sanctuary, we need to have a multi-agency approach to support these people within our community.” Next year marks the 20th anniversary of Sheffield becoming the first UK City of Sanctuary.
Melinda said she also questioned the minister regarding discussions around national cohesion and unity, pointing out that asylum seekers in the UK are frequently cut off from wider society. She said many live in fear of how they’ll be received by the general public amid the current hostile climate and increasing racism.
She’s concerned that new measures such as earned settlement, where indefinite leave to remain will no longer be granted after a fixed period, will worsen the mental health struggles faced by those seeking refuge in the UK. This policy shift means countless individuals will lose the sense of security that comes with being permanently settled in Britain, preventing them from rebuilding their lives and making meaningful contributions to their local areas.
“I have worked in Africa and Latin America and have seen people dying of starvation. I could see that within the context of those countries,” Melinda explained. “Seeing what is happening here and how we are treating people, that is what really hurts me. I decided I’m speaking here.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with the loved ones of this young woman.
“We work closely with accommodation providers, local authorities, and charities to ensure asylum seekers are supported while their claims are processed. This includes access to healthcare and mental health services.
“The Government is committed to building a fair asylum system that prioritises those most in need while ensuring that we maintain control of our borders.”
Sheffield City Council stated that it was not in a position to offer a comment during the pre-election period.
*When life is difficult, Samaritans are available – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
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