P03-411 - The mental health consequences of protracted asylum seeking in Australia

Abstract

The mandatory detention of asylum seekers in Australia and the administrative, legal and ministtreal appeal processes have lead to protracted process of refugee determination.Further compounding of trauma/ torture, diminished sense of self future and purpose leading to high levels distress including anxiety depressive and somatoform disorders. High levels of distress appear to persisit after refgugees are settled.Study/methods•Harvard Trauma Questionnaire-R (HTQ-R) •Hopkins Symptoms Checklist (HSCL-25) •Post-Migration Living Difficulties Checklist (PMLDC) •Psychiatric Epidemiology Research Interview - Demoralisation Scale (PERI-D)f •ResultsN = 124. 84% Male; 93% conversant in English •Age: 20–62 years (μ = 35 yrs, SD = 10.8) •Residency Status: PR n = 32 (25%) Asylum Seeker n = 92 (75%) •Visa status: BVE (30%) BVA (23%) Student Visa (10%) •Time since application: 0 – 178 months (14.8 yrs) (μ = 31.2, SD = 48.4) •Not economic refugees. > 99% arrived by plane. • 34% without Medicare & 23% no work rights.ConclusionMultiple fold higher than the general population. -Highly traumatised population -Marginal reduction when granted protection •Inter-correlation between clinical measures à indicates pan-distress. •Clinical measures with number of rejections & time since app •Comparable number of pre-migration traumas yet difference in ‘refugee’ trauma & PTSD for AS vs. PR may reflect that current state of trauma is due to RDP ∨ perpetuating psychosocial factors •It has characteristics of many disorders but its own identity lication à weak association. -Ceiling effect of distress? -current state of trauma is due to RDP &/or perpetuating psychosocial factors •It has characteristics of many disorders but its own identity.