Deteriorating mental health
It is well documented that immigration detention causes harm to people’s mental health, that the impact on mental health increases the longer someone is held, and that this impact lasts well beyond someone’s release from detention. The fact of being held in immigration causes mental distress and illness, increases the risk of self-harm and/ or suicide, and also can act to exacerbate existing mental health problems.
A clear summary of the clinical research position that all detained people are at risk of harm caused by detention is contained in the Royal College of Psychiatrists Position Statement:
“Detention centres are likely to precipitate a significant deterioration of mental health in most cases, greatly increasing suffering and the risk of suicide.”
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