life after detention- personal impact on asylum seekers
There are many physical and mental incidents and issues that happen while staying inside detention centres- many that do not just disappear after the stay in detention is over. A study done in 2004 tested asylum seeking families who had stayed in rural Australian detention centres found that feelings of distress, sadness and hopelessness were commonplace among adults and children alike. Sudden upsetting memory and intrusive image onsets were constantly causing the people grief and parents felt that they could no longer care for their children. A similar study done in June 2010 on 17 asylum seekers who had stayed in detention for an average of 3 years and 2 months found painfully similar results. These people, once released, struggled to rebuild their lives and felt a sense of insecurity, injustice and had low self esteem. Many struggled to rebuild relationships and had poor mental health; being diagnosed with conditions such as depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder (PSTD). Their lives were full of bad memories, poor life outlooks and difficulty concentration. This means that in the six years between 2004 and 2010 nothing changed. 2013 is no different.
Being in detention centres, as emphasised by the studies above, does more damage that it does good. While governments sit and ponder that processing, Asylum seekers in detention lie in wait and struggle just to make it through each day. Processing is an issue that needs to be properly sorted out and planned, but the effect of detention centres and the aftermath is a bigger issue because once released, there is a low chance that these people will be able to effectively contribute to the society. This is because once released:
Being in detention centres, as emphasised by the studies above, does more damage that it does good. While governments sit and ponder that processing, Asylum seekers in detention lie in wait and struggle just to make it through each day. Processing is an issue that needs to be properly sorted out and planned, but the effect of detention centres and the aftermath is a bigger issue because once released, there is a low chance that these people will be able to effectively contribute to the society. This is because once released:
- Asylum seekers have trouble making bonds and relationships with others
- They struggle to learn or carry a condition that was caused by detention which limits their ability to be properly educated
- Are extremely anxious, having been through the trauma of escaping their home as well as that of detention centres. This can lead to emotional numbing ( can no longer feel any emotion, e.g. don't feel sad, happy, etc.), anxiety, uncertainty and nightmares
- Feel as though they have no control over their future
- Be limited to legal access as a result of lack of education and 'badge' entitling them the label of asylum seeker
- Continual mental issue such as anxiety, PSTD and depression which can lead to self harm or suicide
The good news is that this can be fixed. If another form of asylum seeker resettlement can be put into place or processing straight into Australia can be put into place, we can save the livelihood of these neighbours who have already been through so much