Previous research concerned with the experience of immigration detention focuses on the general immigration detention population, which mainly consists of men. This means that the experiences of men are treated as the norm, despite it being likely that women experience immigration detention differently. This study addresses this gap by focusing on the experiences of women detainees in long-term immigration detention in Australia. It examines the effects of long-term immigration detention on their mental health through a descriptive quantitative analysis and a qualitative inductive thematic analysis of data contained in publically available reports released by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and the Commonwealth Ombudsman. This study provides empirical detail describing how the experiences of women held in long-term immigration detention are similar and different to those of the general immigration detention population. We conclude by considering how these differences can be understood through a gendered understanding of risk. © Author(s) [2018].

Australia Women Gender Mental health Detention Immigration

empirical analysis qualitative analysis quantitative analysis Australia health risk gender disparity mental health immigration womens status