Journal of Ambulatory Care Management
Volume 26, Issue 4, 2003, Pages 383-385

The impact of detention on the health of asylum seekers (Review)

Keller A.S.* , Ford D. , Sachs E. , Rosenfeld B. , Trinh-Shevrin C. , Meserve C. , Leviss J.A. , Singer E. , Smith H. , Wilkinson J. , Kim G. , Allden K. , Rockline P.
  • a Bellevue/New York University (NYU), Program for Survivors of Torture, New York, NY, United States, Bellevue/New York University (NYU), Program for Survivors of Torture, 462 First Ave, New York, NY 10016, United States
  • b Physicians for Human Rights, Boston, MA, United States
  • c Bellevue/New York University (NYU), Program for Survivors of Torture, New York, NY, United States
  • d [Affiliation not available]
  • e Bellevue/New York University (NYU), Program for Survivors of Torture, New York, NY, United States
  • f Bellevue/New York University (NYU), Program for Survivors of Torture, New York, NY, United States
  • g [Affiliation not available]
  • h Bellevue/New York University (NYU), Program for Survivors of Torture, New York, NY, United States
  • i Bellevue/New York University (NYU), Program for Survivors of Torture, New York, NY, United States
  • j Bellevue/New York University (NYU), Program for Survivors of Torture, New York, NY, United States
  • k [Affiliation not available]
  • l [Affiliation not available]
  • m Physicians for Human Rights, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

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.

Author Keywords

Mental health Asylum seekers Detention human rights

Index Keywords

human health status depression Review anxiety disorder mental health service health care system health care policy mental health care health care availability human rights prison health insurance health care quality wellbeing United States posttraumatic stress disorder
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-10744225821&doi=10.1097%2f00004479-200310000-00016&partnerID=40&md5=78b4d94a0e743f498a553b33131a677c
DOI: 10.1097/00004479-200310000-00016
ISSN: 01489917
Cited by: 14
Original Language: English