Asylum seekers at greater risk of mental illness

People in immigration detention show far greater rates of mental health issues than the rest of the population, with rates increasing according to the amount of time spent in detention, an MJA study reveals. The health records of a representative sample of 720 detainees revealed unauthorised boat arrivals had far greater rates of mental health issues than other types of detainees, such as illegal air arrivals, visa overstays and illegal foreign fishermen. Time spent in detention was also a major factor, with those who had been in detention longer than 24 months showing a 3.6 times higher rate of mental illness than those who were released within three months. Almost half of those detained for 24 months or longer experienced some form of new mental health problem during their time in detention. The study excluded any mental health problems detainees may have developed after leaving detention, the authors noted. The geographical isolation of some of these detention centres may have affected the mental health of detainees, noted Dr Christine Phillips, Senior Lecturer in General Practice and Community Care at the Australian National University, in an accompanying editorial. The centres also fostered emotional instability, while children witnessed violence and security crackdowns, she added. “The evidence is growing that asylum seekers are likely to be those most psychologically damaged by immigration detention, and that their children are particularly vulnerable,” Dr Phillips wrote. “There is a good case to be made on health grounds that immigration detention should be used in very limited ways for asylum seekers, and never for children.” MJA rapid online publication...