BMJ  2006;332:251-252 (4 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7536.251

Editorial

Detention of refugees

Australia has given up mandatory detention because it damages detainees' mental health

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

More than 7 million of the world's 17 million refugees remain "warehoused" under conditions of confinement,¹ raising serious human rights issues about the treatment of people fleeing oppression. The British policy of expanding detention centres for asylum seekers adds to this concern, making it timely to consider what lessons might be learnt from Australia's recent reversal of its mandatory detention policy.

In 2002 Australia stood alone in introducing indefinite, non-reviewable, mandatory detention for asylum seekers arriving by boat or without valid entry documents. Asylum seekers of all ages, including children, were held for years in remote detention centres. From the outset, the medical profession (clinicians, researchers, the Australian Medical Association, and specialist colleges) raised concerns that detention might adversely affect the mental health of traumatised refugees.² Clinical observations were supported by research conducted by an Iraqi doctor held in detention³ and by Australian specialists in refugee mental health.^{2 4} A . . . [Full text of this article]

Warneford Hospital, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 7JX
(mina.fazel@psych.ox.ac.uk)

Centre for Population Mental Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2170, Australia

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Failure to tackle refugees’ health needs increases risk of exclusion

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Robjant, K., Hassan, R., Katona, C. (2009). Mental health implications of detaining asylum seekers: systematic review. Br. J. Psychiatry 194: 306-312 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• McColl, H., McKenzie, K., Bhui, K. (2008). Mental healthcare of asylum-seekers and refugees. Adv. Psychiatr. Treat. 14: 452-459 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Silove, D., Austin, P., Steel, Z. (2007). No Refuge from Terror: The Impact of Detention on the Mental Health of Trauma-affected Refugees Seeking Asylum in Australia. Transcultural Psychiatry 44: 359-393 [Abstract]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Australia Continues Policy of Mandatory Detention

Annette A. McKail
bmj.com, 8 Feb 2006 [Full text]

mandatory detention of asylum seekers in Australia

Gaille Abud
bmj.com, 8 Feb 2006 [Full text]

Response

Mina S Fazel, et al.
bmj.com, 8 Feb 2006 [Full text]

Unmet Medical Needs in Detention

Frank W Arnold, et al.
bmj.com, 2 Mar 2006 [Full text]

False and misleading report

Madeleine Byrne
bmj.com, 26 Aug 2006 [Full text]

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