The impact of immigration detention on the mental health of refugees and asylum seekers

Abstract

Studies consistently report that asylum seekers held in immigration detention have relatively high rates of mental distress, yet evidence of the long-term impact of immigration detention is limited. Using propensity score–based methods, we estimated the impact of immigration detention on the prevalence of nonspecific psychological distress, using the Kessler-6, and probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), using the PTSD-8, among participants in a national sample of asylum seekers in the 5 years following their resettlement in Australia (N = 334). At Wave 1, the prevalence of nonspecific psychological distress was high among all participants regardless of detainment status, OR = 0.28, 95% CI [0.04, 2.06], and did not change over time for either detainees (n = 222), OR = 1.01, 95% CI [0.46, 2.18], or nondetainees (n = 103), OR = 0.81, 95% CI [0.39, 1.67]. In contrast, the odds of probable PTSD were significantly higher for former detainees, OR = 8.20; 95% CI [2.61, 26.73], than nondetainees at Wave 1; although they declined among former detainees, OR = 0.56, 95% CI [0.38, 0.82]), and increased among nondetainees, OR = 1.57, 95% CI [1.11, 2.23], in the years following resettlement. These results imply the use of immigration detention to manage unauthorized migration increases the prevalence of probable PTSD in the short term among former detainees who have resettled in Australia.