Respuesta :
A 2018 systematic review study of 26 studies including 2,099 participants, indicated that adults, adolescents, and children experienced high levels of mental health problems.7 Anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were most commonly reported during and after the period of being detained.
A 2016 secondary analysis of previously unreported data from the 2014 Australian Human Rights Commission Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention examined the impacts among 129 children aged 17 and under who had been detained for an average of 7 months.8
The results showed that 83% of the adults and 85.7% of the teenagers showed severe co-occurring depression and anxiety. In addition, 75.7% of the children had a high probability of a psychiatric disorder. Finally, 67% of parents were concerned about their infant's (under 3 years of age) development.
Emotional and Peer Problems
A cross-sectional study of 425 mothers and their eldest child held at a U.S. immigration detention center for two months in the middle of 2018 found that the children showed emotional problems and peer problems.9
The younger children (aged 4 to 8 showed more conduct problems and hyperactivity problems compared to the older children.
In addition, children separated from their mothers showed significantly more emotional problems and overall difficulties compared to those who were never separated from their mothers.
Depression, Anxiety, and Suicidal Ideation
In a 2015 article sharing stories from unaccompanied children held at Christmas Island off of the coast of Australia, 40 boys aged 14 to 17, several girls aged 17 on arrival, and several 18-year-olds who had been 17 years old on arrival were interviewed.10
Most had been in detention for a period of 6 to 8 months and shared stories of leaving their homes in search of protection, employment, and education and to help their families. They were escaping war, murder, villages being burnt down, persecution, violence, sexual abuse, forced marriage, forced labor, etc.
The children generally came from Afghanistan, Somalia, Iran, Burma, and Sri Lanka. Their families had either sent them or they had become orphaned or been threatened. They traveled for weeks to months through India, Malaysia, or Thailand and then eventually boarded boats in Indonesia.
These children reported symptoms consistent with major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Some had psychotic symptoms. Most were afraid of being transferred to the adult living quarters and felt sad about losing friends who had been transferred to these quarters. In addition, some reported suicidal ideation.
Criminalized and Helpless
A 2015 qualitative study of 20 detained families held for an average of 56 days in Canada showed that children were frightened, and felt criminalized and helpless.11
Even brief detention of a period of just 48 hours was shown to result in emotional and behavioral effects that affected their sense of well-being that lasted months after release.
Effects included anxiety, mood problems, sleep problems, separation anxiety, fear of people in uniforms, selective mutism, and appetite problems (refusing to eat).
Weight Loss and Sleep Problems
In a 2009 study of 24 detained children (aged 3 months to 17 years), it was shown that children were experiencing depression, anxiety, sleep problems, somatic problems, poor appetite, emotional symptoms, and behavioral problems.12
Weight loss, developmental problems, educational problems, and nutritional problems were also noted in the study.
Signs of Emotional Distress
Emotional distress resulting from being in a detention center has been shown to be experienced by adults, adolescents, and children. Some of the common factors that affect these groups equally include the conditions within the detention center, such that it resembles a prison-like environment rather than feeling like home.
For children specifically, emotional distress can result from the loss of the parent-child bond (if they are separated from their parents), loss of education and activities, and interference with normal stages of development.
For all groups, chronic stress is a significant factor leading to emotional distress. Depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress are the most common mental health problems seen in these groups. Chronic stress can lead to a variety of serious physical and mental health issues.
Below is a summary of signs of distress or mental health problems (primarily in children and adolescents but also in adults).
