The increased incidence of suicide and self-harm amongst detained asylum seekers over recent months has again highlighted the damaging impacts of prolonged and indefinite detention on the mental health of asylum seekers. The suicides of two detainees at the Villawood detention centre since September and the protest on Christmas Island during which 10 asylum seekers sewed their lips together have evidenced the urgent need to review Australia’s policy of mandatory detention.  In its report on Christmas Island released in October, the Australian Human Rights Commission highlighted the inadequacy of mental health services on the Island and expressed concern about the increasing rate of self-harm amongst detainees. The report is available here. Amnesty International Australia expressed similar concerns in a recent submission to the UN Committee Against Torture on immigration detention. The submission drew attention to the rise in self-harm and attempted suicides, the noticeable distress amongst detainees and the deficiency of mental health resources across all facilities. The submission is available here.

In September, RCOA issued a media release calling for a review of the mandatory detention policy, urging the Australian Government to seek out alternatives to detention for asylum seekers. The release is available here.