Mental distress and human rights of asylum seekers

Abstract

Purpose – This paper studies the experiences of asylum seekers in Australia. The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between mental wellbeing, living conditions, and Australia’s detention policies in light of human rights. Design/methodology/approach – Using grounded theory, data were collected via observations, semi-structured interviews, key-informant interviews, and document analysis. Participants included seven asylum seekers and three professionals working with them. Findings – In light of a human rights framework, this paper reports on the mental distress suffered by asylum seekers in detention, the environments of constraint in which they live, and aspects of detention centre policy that contribute to these environments. The findings highlight a discrepancy between asylum seekers’ experiences under immigration detention policy and Australia’s human rights obligations. Research limitations/implications – This research indicates human rights violations for asylum seekers in detention in Australia. This research project involved a small number of participants and recommends systemic review of the policy and practices that affect asylum seekers’ mental health including larger numbers of participants. Consideration is made of alternatives to detention as well as improving detention centre conditions. The World Health Organization’s Quality Rights Tool Kit might provide the basis for a framework to review Australia’s immigration detention system with particular focus on the poor mental wellbeing of asylum seekers in detention. Originality/value – This study links international human rights law and Australian immigration detention policies and practices with daily life experiences of suffering mental distress within environments of constraint and isolation. It identifies asylum seekers as a vulnerable population with respect to human rights and mental wellbeing. Of particular value is the inclusion of asylum seekers themselves in interviews.

The structural-personal interaction: Occupational deprivation and asylum seekers in Australia

“…Detention of asylum seekers in Australia certainly does not fulfill these human rights according to the findings presented in this and other research (Bull, Schindeler, Berkman, & Ransley, 2013;Campbell & Steel, 2015;Carrigan, 2014;Triggs, 2014;Woolcott et al, 2013). Given these findings, the authors recommend countries that currently detain people undergoing refugee status determination shift to policies of community placement.…”

“…Its government states that it is "committed to not providing permanent protection visas" (Department of Immigration and Border Protection, 2015) to people who arrive by boat without a pre-arranged visa and has, therefore, subjected asylum seekers to detention, offshore arrangements, and harsh conditions in community detention since the introduction of mandatory detention (Campbell & Steel, 2015;Department of Immigration and Border Protection, 2015;Fleay, Hartley, & Kenny, 2013;Fleay & Hoffman, 2014;Phillips & Spinks, 2013). To date, no research has been published describing occupational deprivation and asylum seekers in Australia.…”

“…When asylum seekers apply for protection, they state that they fulfill the requirements of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (United Nations General Assembly, 1951). Asylum seekers await refugee status determination after arrival in a host country (Campbell & Steel, 2015); whereas refugees are already accepted as refugees prior to entering the host country, and are granted a protection visa (Raveendran, 2012;Whiteford, 2005).…”

Australia's refugee policies and their health impact: a review of the evidence and recommendations for the Australian Government

“…Mandatory detention of “unauthorised” arrivals claiming asylum in Australia is arguably the most controversial of these refugee policies. Since 2009, six articles have been published describing the detrimental effect that detention has on the mental health of detainees 10–15 . Green and Eager's examination of asylum seeker health records found that those in detention for longer than 24 months, were 3.6 times as likely to develop new psychiatric illness than those detained for less than 3 months (95% CI, 1.1–11.0) 15 .…”

“…Since 2009, six articles have been published describing the detrimental effect that detention has on the mental health of detainees. [10][11][12][13][14][15] Green and Eager's examination of asylum seeker health records found that those in detention for longer than 24 months, were 3.6 times as likely to develop new psychiatric illness than those detained for less than 3 months (95% CI, 1.1-11.0). 15 Coffey et al's qualitative analysis of the experiences of 17 adult refugees who had been detained for, on average, three years demonstrated that three years post-detention participants had poor psychological wellbeing and suffered with a sense of insecurity, injustice, struggles with relationships and overall deficient mental health.…”