Andrew Hall, Canberra
The effect of detention on the mental health of refugees and asylum seekers was the topic of a public forum organised by the ACT Refugee Action Committee (RAC) on April 28. It was attended by 135 people.
Guest speakers, Dr Louise Newman, director of the NSW Institute of Psychiatry and also convenor of the Alliance of Health Professionals for Asylum Seekers, and Dr Christine Phillips, a general practitioner working in refugee health and senior lecturer in community health at the ANU Medical School, outlined how Australia's refugee policy makes people mentally ill.
Newman, who has done extensive research into the effects of long-term detention especially on children, noted that the Cornelia Rau case has illustrated how detention centres are used as de facto psychiatric hospitals.
She explained that the mandatory detention selects an already highly traumatised population group with high health needs. An increasing number of studies, she said, have confirmed that 60-85% of those detained have post-traumatic stress disorders and depression.
Phillips, who works with people recently released from detention, recounted several stories of the difficulties refugees face after being released from detention, in particular "the special kind of torture — bridging visas".
Both speakers concluded their talks explaining how the refugees' rights movement can change the current system.
Newman said that the Cornelia Rau scandal had triggered a resurgence of compassion for the mentally ill and in particular refugees. "Disturbingly", she said, "since Cornelia Rau, the government disputes the clear research findings of high levels of disorders and the link between the detention environment and disorders."
She said that mandatory detention "cannot be justified. In discussions over a more fairer and better system this should be kept in mind. It leaves the door open for more abuses, leaving the same environment in place."
Newman called for a full judicial inquiry as well as for the immediate release of all detainees.
Phillips noted the positive groundswell of grassroots support for refugees since the Rau case. She said this was playing an even bigger role in helping refugees recover from the trauma of detention than the doctors are.
A RAC motion condemning the government's detention policy and calling on health professional groups and refugees' rights organisations to work together in a campaign against mandatory detention was unanimously endorsed. Strong support was also pledged for the next event for refugee rights campaigners in Canberra — a World Refugee Day rally on June 18.
From Green Left Weekly, May 4, 2005.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.