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The mental health consequences of protracted asylum seeking in Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

R.F. D'Souza  and
Prof Suresh Sundram Refugee Resource Centre
R.F. D'Souza
Affiliation:
Northern Psychiatry Reserach Centre, Melbourne University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Abstract

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The mandatory detention of asylum seekers in Australia and the administrative, legal and ministtreal appeal processes have lead to protracted process of refugee determination.

Further compounding of trauma/ torture, diminished sense of self future and purpose leading to high levels distress including anxiety depressive and somatoform disorders. High levels of distress appear to persisit after refgugees are settled.

Study/methods

•Harvard Trauma Questionnaire-R (HTQ-R) •Hopkins Symptoms Checklist (HSCL-25) •Post-Migration Living Difficulties Checklist (PMLDC) •Psychiatric Epidemiology Research Interview - Demoralisation Scale (PERI-D)f •

Results

N = 124. 84% Male; 93% conversant in English •Age: 20–62 years (μ = 35 yrs, SD = 10.8) •Residency Status: PR n = 32 (25%) Asylum Seeker n = 92 (75%) •Visa status: BVE (30%) BVA (23%) Student Visa (10%) •Time since application: 0 – 178 months (14.8 yrs) (μ = 31.2, SD = 48.4) •Not economic refugees. > 99% arrived by plane. • 34% without Medicare & 23% no work rights.

Conclusion

Multiple fold higher than the general population. -Highly traumatised population -Marginal reduction when granted protection •Inter-correlation between clinical measures à indicates pan-distress. •Clinical measures with number of rejections & time since app •Comparable number of pre-migration traumas yet difference in ‘refugee’ trauma & PTSD for AS vs. PR may reflect that current state of trauma is due to RDP ∨ perpetuating psychosocial factors •It has characteristics of many disorders but its own identity lication à weak association. -Ceiling effect of distress? -current state of trauma is due to RDP &/or perpetuating psychosocial factors •It has characteristics of many disorders but its own identity.

Type
P03-411
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 26 , Issue S2: Abstracts of the 19th European Congress of Psychiatry , March 2011 , pp. 1581
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2011
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