<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/22/almost-90-of-children-brought-from-nauru-suffered-physical-health-problem-study>
"Nearly nine in 10 children brought from offshore processing on Nauru to
Australia were suffering physical health conditions, including malnutrition and
dental disease, while almost 80% reported one or more mental health symptoms,
new research has revealed.
Nearly half – 45% – had reported suicidal ideation, a suicide attempt, or
self-harm.
The deleterious impact of conditions in detention on Nauru has been previously
revealed as particularly acute on children: by psychiatrists on the island who
said conditions were “inherently toxic” and akin to “torture”; by Médecins Sans
Frontières who reported mental health on the island was in “crisis” and amongst
the worst the organisation had seen anywhere in the world; and through public
revelations like the Nauru Files, more than 2,100 incident reports which
revealed systemic sexual and physical abuse of children and widespread
self-harm and suicide attempts.
There are no children left in offshore processing on Nauru, and the detention
centre is empty: though it remains in abeyance, on standby for future arrivals
by boat.
The new research, published in the BMJ’s
Archives of Disease in Childhood,
found physical and mental health problems faced by almost all children and
young people in the sample population.
More than half of the children had been held on Nauru for more than four years.
Lead author of the study, Dr Lahiru Amarasena, a paediatrician and PhD student
at the school of women’s and children’s health at UNSW, said the research added
to the evidence that immigration detention is a harmful practice for children."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
