Immigration Detention and Mental Health
The Mental Health Council has expressed grave concern over the mental health of people being held in immigration detention centres around the country by the Australian Governments' Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.
The Council is also concerned about the ethical implications for mental health professionals working within the immigration detention system.
MHCA Media on Immigration Detention:
Please see below for links to our media releases on immigration detention.
Commentary:
Please see links to articles and commentary on mental health and immigration detention below.
Australian Organisations Assisting With Asylum Seekers' Health Needs
A number of organisations and networks have been set up around Australia to coordinate or provide assistance, including volunteer health care services to asylum seekers in the community who are not issued Medicare cards.
Generally, people who have been recognised as refugees by the Australian government receive a Medicare card. Where asylum seekers are being held in detention centres, the centre management is responsible for providing health care services.
Nationally, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (A MHCA member) has joined with 27 other medical Colleges, professional associations and other organisations to form the Professional Alliance for the Health of Asylum Seekers and Their Children.
To contact the Alliance and for contacts of other state and territroy based organisations providing asylum seekers' with health care, including mental mental, please see:
RACGP ONLINE: Professional Alliance for the Health of Asylum Seekers and Their Children