Mental health implications of detaining asylum seekers: systematic review

Robjant, Katy; Hassan, Rita; Katona, Cornelius

doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.108.053223

Cited by 329 publications

(282 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…A recent meta-analysis found a consistent association between the experience of immigration detention practices and poor mental health, reporting that feelings of hopelessness and a sense of injustice were particularly salient. 7 Institutional detention can, according to the British Medical Association (BMA), remind torture victims of their experiences and can compound the psychological damage already suffered. The BMA argues that asylum-seekers should not ordinarily be detained; if detention is used, then the reception centre should be comfortable and healthcare needs should be met.…”

Section: Asylum In Irelandmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…7 They have insecure residency status and live in constant fear of repatriation. 8 Asylum applications may take years to process and during this time people seeking asylum in Ireland do not have the right to work or to private accommodation.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…10 Detention, a stressor that refugees do not endure once they achieve refugee status, has repeatedly been shown adversely to affect mental health. 7,11 …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mental health and the asylum process

Crumlish

Bracken

2011

Ir. j. psychol. Med.

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Section: Asylum In Irelandmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mental health and the asylum process

Crumlish

Bracken

2011

Ir. j. psychol. Med.

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“…To date, however, there has been a predominant focus on the mental health implications of immigration detention, with several systematic reviews having already been conducted. [12][13][14] Research with asylum seekers in Australia's community is currently lacking due to reluctance by the government to provide statistics or registers of those living in the community 15 as well as ethical issues and recruitment difficulties in gaining access to 'hidden' populations that may be fearful of authority. 16 Drawing from the international literature, the aim of this systematic review was to document physical health problems that asylum seekers experience on settlement, to assess the utilisation of healthcare services and barriers to care.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The physical health status, service utilisation and barriers to accessing care for asylum seekers residing in the community: a systematic review of the literature

Hadgkiss

Renzaho

2014

Aust. Health Review

140

118

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Objective. To document physical health problems that asylum seekers experience on settlement in the community and to assess their utilisation of healthcare services and barriers to care, in an international context. Methods.A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative studies was undertaken according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase and CINAHL databases were searched from 2002 to October 2012, focusing on adult asylum seekers residing in the community in high-income countries.Results. The search yielded 1499 articles, of which 32 studies met the inclusion criteria -23 quantitative and nine qualitative. Asylum seekers had complex health profiles spanning a range of infectious diseases, chronic non-communicable conditions, and reproductive-health issues. They appeared to utilise health services at a higher rate than the host population, yet faced significant barriers to care.Conclusion. The findings of this study highlight the health inequities faced by asylum seekers residing in the communities of host countries, internationally. National data on asylum seekers' health profiles, service utilisation and barriers to care, as well as cross-country policy comparisons, are urgently required for the development of effective Australian health programs and evidence-based policy. What is known about the topic?The clinical and political focus of asylum seekers' health has largely been on the higher incidence of mental disorders and the impact of immigration detention. Since policy changes made in late 2011, an increasing number of asylum seekers have been permitted to live in the community while their claims are processed. There is a paucity of research exploring the physical health needs of asylum seekers residing in the community. What does this paper add? The international literature highlights the complexity of asylum seekers' health profiles. Although they appear to utilise health services at a higher rate than the host population, they continue to face many barriers to care. What are the implications for practitioners? Studies that explore policy options, including cross-country comparisons of health policy and guidelines that improve health outcomes, to foster equity of access and reduce health inequalities between asylum seekers and the host population are urgently required.

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“…Detention can also impact on mental and physical health, with LGBT people fearing harassment and abuse from other detainees or disclosure if they are not open about their sexuality (Robjant et al, 2009;Metropolitan Migration Foundation (MMF), 2012).…”

Section: Manymentioning

confidence: 99%

LGBT asylum seekers and health inequalities in the UK

Karban¹,

Sirriyeh²

LGBT Health Inequalities

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<1> VignetteJay was born in Nigeria where same sex behaviour between adults is punishable by up to 14 years imprisonment. Although she identifies herself as a lesbian, she was pressured into marriage and has one child, now 10 years old, who remains in Nigeria and who she has not seen for 7 years. Jay rarely goes out as she is frightened of meeting people from the Nigerian community, fearing harassment or violence if they find out about her sexuality. She has attempted to self-harm on several occasions and is receiving anti-depressant medication from her GP although she has not disclosed that she is gay.

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Mental health implications of detaining asylum seekers: systematic review

Abstract: This area of research is in its infancy and studies are limited by methodological constraints. Findings consistently report high levels of mental health problems among detainees. There is some evidence to suggest an independent adverse effect of detention on mental health.

Cited by 329 publications

References 26 publications

Mental health and the asylum process

Mental health and the asylum process

The physical health status, service utilisation and barriers to accessing care for asylum seekers residing in the community: a systematic review of the literature

LGBT asylum seekers and health inequalities in the UK

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