The impact of detention on the health of asylum seekers.
Asylum seekers arriving in the United States are often imprisoned for months or years while their asylum claims are processed. Recently, Physicians for Human Rights and the Bellevue/New York University Program for Survivors of Torture released the findings of the first systematic study examining the health of detained asylum seekers. The study found that the mental health of asylum seekers interviewed was extremely poor, including high levels of symptoms for anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder, which worsened the longer individuals were in detention. The study also raises concerns about the manner in which asylum seekers are treated upon arrival in the United States and then while in detention. These findings support assertions that detention has a harmful effect on the health and well-being of asylum seekers. Policies regarding the long-term detention of asylum seekers should be reconsidered.
Keller
Allen S
AS
Bellevue/New York University (NYU) Program for Survivors of Torture, 462 First Ave, CD 710, New York, NY 10016, USA. ask45@aol.com
Ford
Douglas
D
Sachs
Emily
E
Rosenfeld
Barry
B
Trinh-Shevrin
Chau
C
Meserve
Chris
C
Leviss
Jonathan A
JA
Singer
Elizabeth
E
Smith
Hawthorne
H
Wilkinson
John
J
Kim
Glen
G
Allden
Kathleen
K
Rockline
Paul
P
D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology*; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D011640:Public Policy; D012036:Refugees / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D012934:Social Isolation; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology