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

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Psychological distress appeared to worsen as the length of detentionincreased. Severity of anxiety, depression and PTSD symptoms were allsignificantly correlated with length of time in detention. 147 Forty-nine(70%) stated that overall their mental health had worsened substantiallywhile in detention. While most of the individuals with clinically significantsymptoms acknowledged that their symptoms had started after experiencingproblems/persecution in their countries of origin, but before arrivingin the United States, the overwhelming majority of these symptomaticindividuals reported that their symptoms had worsened during theirdetention (88% for depression, 88% for PTSD and 87% for anxiety).When asked to estimate the extent to which their current psychologicalsymptoms were influenced by detention, subjects overwhelmingly citedthe detention experience as substantially contributing to worsening theirmental health. Nearly all (97%) of the participants with significant PTSDsymptoms indicated that detention was significantly worsening theirsymptoms, along with 95% of individuals with clinically significantdepression and 86% with clinically significant anxiety.TABLE 9:Suicidal Thoughts While in Detention (N=70)YesNumber (%)NoNumber(%)Thoughts of suicide while in detention 18 (26) 52 (74)If had thoughts of suicide (n=18), then told 3 (17) 15 (83)detention facility staff.While in detention, attempted suicide 2 (3) 68 (97)Mental Health ServicesMost of the asylum seekers interviewed (69%) reported that theywanted counseling for their mental health problems although few receivedsuch services (Table 10). Among those who wanted counseling, only 6(13%) reported receiving counseling from someone provided by the detentionfacility. An additional 7 detainees reported receiving support whichthey considered counseling from non-INS sources, such as religious or volunteervisitors. Among individuals who wanted counseling, however, veryfew (28%) actually requested counseling from the detention facility. Thereason primarily given for not requesting counseling was that they did not147(r s =.34, p < .05) for anxiety symptoms; (r s =.28, p < .05) for depressive symptoms; and(r s =.28, p < .05) for PTSD symptoms.MENTAL HEALTH OF DETAINED ASYLUM SEEKERS 63
think such services were available. Among the 12 individuals whorequested counseling from the facility, half reported having received atleast some counseling. Most individuals (80%) who received some counselingfrom either the facility or outside counselors reported that theybelieved the counseling was helpful.Medications for anxiety, depression or sleep difficulties were morereadily available to the detainees interviewed (Table 10). Forty seven percentof study participants reported having wanted such medications whilein detention, and 58% of these individuals received medications. As withcounseling, many individuals reported not requesting medications becausethey were not aware that they were available. Among those who requestedmedication, most (80%) received medication. Sixty-three percent of individualswho wanted and received medication, thought that it was helpful.NarrativesThe testimonies of detained asylum seekers interviewed in this study powerfullyarticulate their perceptions of how the detention experience furtherharmed their mental health. The narratives highlight several dimensions ofthis harm. For example, in many ways the nature of detention recreatespersecution asylum seekers suffered in their countries of origin: beingtrapped and helpless in the hands of authorities. Confinement and the lossof liberty can profoundly disturb asylum seekers and trigger feelings ofisolation and powerlessness. Furthermore, in detention, asylum seekersare treated as criminals, a demeaning status, even though they have notbeen convicted of any crime.Poor and Worsening Mental HealthAsylum seekers described their prior suffering and the symptoms of depression,anxiety and PTSD that they were experiencing while in detention.A 27-year-old man who was repeatedly arrested and beaten because ofhis political and ethnic associations, and witnessed the beatings and murdersof his parents, reported the following:This place makes me think a lot about what happened to me in mycountry. I am not free and this reminds me of when I was in prison inmy country. I think too much, especially of my responsibility. I don’tknow [my family’s] condition. I think too much about whether I amgoing to be sent back to my country and there I face death… I try not tothink a lot about what happened, but I can’t control it. When I thinkabout what happened, I feel weak and hopeless… I’m depressed in hereand I feel everything is getting worse.After nearly 6 months in detention, he was granted asylum and released.64 FROM PERSECUTION TO PRISON
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From Persecution to Prison:The Heal
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CONTENTSAcknowledgements . . . . .
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The Bellevue/NYU Program for Surviv
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don, Miranda Ip, and Meriam Alrashi
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Significant symptoms of depression
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Detained asylum seekers participati
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persecution, yet most emphasized ho
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In many facilities, the response to
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years in detention, she finally got
Page 21 and 22: abuse For example, while being take
Page 23 and 24: They didn’t let me use the phone
Page 25 and 26: intensely personal events they had
Page 27 and 28: Limitations of this study include t
Page 29 and 30: Non-governmental organizations serv
Page 31 and 32: 22 FROM PERSECUTION TO PRISON
Page 33 and 34: the late 1990s ranging from 10 to 7
Page 35 and 36: Historical BackgroundFor most of th
Page 37 and 38: international standards with the 19
Page 39 and 40: apply for asylum make up the majori
Page 41 and 42: tion judge. 57 Yet in many parts of
Page 43 and 44: York and Newark, New Jersey has had
Page 45 and 46: trict began denying parole to them
Page 47 and 48: Correctional Facility in 2000. “[
Page 49 and 50: men of which 750 were detained on i
Page 51 and 52: from that same country from seeking
Page 53 and 54: Detention Facilities in this StudyF
Page 55 and 56: high reliability in numerous langua
Page 59 and 60: York County Prison in York Pennsylv
Page 61 and 62: TABLE 2:Demographic Characteristics
Page 63 and 64: TABLE 4:Prevalence of Pre-Migration
Page 65 and 66: on a part time basis, researchers w
Page 67 and 68: Case #1(DK): “Loneliness and Fear
Page 69 and 70: TABLE 6:Hopkins Symptom Checklist-2
Page 71: TABLE 8:Harvard Trauma Questionnair
Page 75 and 76: When I am talking to you now it is
Page 77 and 78: After being granted asylum and rele
Page 79 and 80: “Being here is like going through
Page 81 and 82: In my country even though I became
Page 83 and 84: how long they were there - six mont
Page 85 and 86: Thoughts of SuicideSeveral asylum s
Page 87 and 88: here?’ I told the doctor, they br
Page 89 and 90: Another subject reported a positive
Page 91 and 92: substantial distance from their att
Page 93 and 94: eported that her experience in dete
Page 97 and 98: e somatic manifestations of the psy
Page 99 and 100: Case #2 (JG): “Health Care in Cha
Page 101 and 102: TABLE 11:Detainee Perceptions of He
Page 103 and 104: TABLE 13:Availability and Quality o
Page 105 and 106: detainees, or because they did not
Page 107 and 108: Difficulty Obtaining Specialized Ca
Page 109 and 110: Another detained asylum seeker repo
Page 111 and 112: One detainee who speaks French and
Page 115 and 116: Detention Facilities in this StudyS
Page 117 and 118: even though many reported having ex
Page 119 and 120: CASE #3 (HN): “SOLITARY CONFINEME
Page 121 and 122: Here, I’m scared. In [the detenti
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emote control and watch what he wan
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Whenever someone misbehaves, they t
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This subject was himself threatened
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One detainee reported several incid
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Some Process Exists to Respond to R
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There were no witnesses other than
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tion. An INS officer said they put
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There is an Anglican minister who c
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The dentists didn’t explain anyth
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tion between dental age and chronol
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Case #4 (LK): “Fifteen-Year-Old G
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136 FROM PERSECUTION TO PRISON
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TABLE 16:Treatment/Abuses Reported
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“There is no political asylum her
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I was crying. I was so afraid with
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save her life, but was not able to
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Case #5 (CR): “Begging for Mercy
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ehind and told me to sign. He physi
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days and it is now 2 years and four
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viewers asked for additional inform
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y study participants. In evaluating
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trast, under US law, detention of s
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nation for an asylum determination
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very negative effects of detention
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authority to grant asylum and with
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absconding.” 250 Since the passag
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said “[F]reedom from imprisonment
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Standards relevant to this study ar
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“detained person” generally as
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which they are charged and a fair h
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esponse to substantial public press
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specified procedures, provided they
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PunishmentThe Detention Standard on
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any time the detainee complains.”
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while in detention, thus adding to
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Establish a Uniform National Parole
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that effect. These officers should
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Besides their inaccuracy, these exa
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friends so asylum seekers can maint
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appropriate staffing of such groups
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efugees and asylum seekers who win
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of thorough documentation. However,
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Human development is complex and di
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18. Country from which fleeing pers
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9. Being close to death.10. Forced
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Complete for each health problem:5.
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Explain:(Interviewer: Write brief n
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2. Depression SymptomsA How much we
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B. You said that you have experienc
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Explain:13. How was your physical h
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Yes ...........1No............22. W
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Explain:20. At the time of your arr
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