From Persecution to Prison - Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of ...

V. Improve Access To And Quality Of Health Services (Including MentalHealth Services) Available To Detained Asylum SeekersDetained asylum seekers, given their prior trauma, and non-criminal status,are a particularly vulnerable population. Refugees and asylum seekersare at increased risk for depression, anxiety and PTSD.DHS should giveincreased consideration as grounds for parole the mental health of asylumseekers and lack of access to specialized services for physical and mentalhealth. It must be acknowledged that the circumstances of detention cansignificantly impede a detained asylum seeker’s recovery from mental distressand/or mental disorders such as PTSD and Major Depression thatthey may be suffering due to traumatic experiences in their country of origin.Likewise, it must be acknowledged, that the circumstances of detentionmay precipitate PTSD and Major Depression among individuals whowere previously coping with traumatic events experienced in their countriesof origin. Indeed, because the conditions of detention are so potentiallydeleterious to the mental health of asylum seekers, significantchanges in the detention system should be undertaken as soon as possible.If the US government continues to insist that asylum seekers be detained,all detained asylum seekers should be provided with humane surroundings,psychosocial support, on-going information about their status, andcontact with families and the outside world (including legal counsel).Given the new Homeland Security measures calling for increased detentionof asylum seekers, one cannot expect anything but deteriorating psychologicalmorbidity among those detained if conditions are not changed.Adequate Mental Health Services Should be Made Available toDetained Asylum SeekersAdequate mental health services should be provided including individualand group counseling as well as appropriate evaluation and prescriptionof medications. Adequate funding for such services must be ensured.Detained asylum seekers should be regularly screened for significant psychologicalsymptoms, including anxiety, depression and PTSD, andreferred for appropriate mental health services based on the findings ofthese evaluations. Detained asylum seekers should be made aware of theavailability of such services. Additionally, nongovernmental organizationswilling to provide psychosocial support for detained asylum seekersshould be allowed appropriate access to detention facilities.Group therapy can be an effective means for providing psychosocialsupport. 402 Issues concerning privacy/safety can be addressed through402Smith, H (2003) “Despair, Resilience, and Meaning of Family. Group Therapy withFrench Speaking Survivors of Torture from Africa.” In R. Carter, B. Wallace (eds). Understandingand Dealing with Violence: Multicultural Perspectives 291-319. Thousand Oaks,California: Sage Press 2003.CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 193