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

Non-governmental organizations serving immigrant and refugee populationsshould be allowed to regularly visit detainees and provide services.These organizations, along with families and friends of asylum seekers,should be allowed increased access.V. Improve Access to and Quality of Health Services, IncludingMental Health Services, to Detained Asylum SeekersAdequate mental health services should be made available to detained asylumseekers. This includes individual and group counseling as well asappropriate evaluation and prescription of medications. Detained asylumseekers should be made aware of the availability of such services. Additionally,non-governmental organizations willing to provide psychosocialsupport for detained asylum seekers should be allowed appropriate accessto detention facilities.Detainees should have improved access to specialized medical services,including adequate dental care. Medical personnel should receive specializedtraining in caring for asylum seekers, which includes identifying andresponding to survivors of torture and persecution and addressing theirpsychosocial needs. DHS should ensure adequate outside review of itshealth care including expertise for the special health care needs of asylumseekers. In making decisions about parole, DHS should give increasedconsideration to the mental health of detained asylum seekers. Furthermore,inadequate access to needed specialized medical services, as well asmental health services, should constitute grounds for parole.It must be acknowledged that the circumstances of detention can significantlyimpede a detained asylum seeker’s recovery from mental distressand/or mental disorders such as PTSD and major depression that they maybe suffering due to traumatic experiences in their country of origin. Likewise,it must be acknowledged, that the circumstances of detention mayprecipitate PTSD and major depression among individuals who were previouslycoping with traumatic events experienced in their countries of origin.Indeed, because the conditions of detention may be so deleterious tothe mental health of asylum seekers, significant changes inthe detention system should be undertaken as soon as possible. If the USgovernment continues to insist that asylum seekers be detained, alldetained asylum seekers should be provided with humane surroundings,psychosocial support, on-going information about their status, and contactwith families and the outside world (including legal counsel).VI. Other RecommendationsBased on the findings of this study, Bellevue/NYU and Physicians forHuman Rights also recommend that the following measures be implementedto insure a humane immigration process:20 FROM PERSECUTION TO PRISON