Published on Monday July 09, 2012 Karissa Donkin Staff Reporter Toronto Star Refugee claimants who undergo mandatory detention under a set of controversial new immigration rules are more likely to suffer mental health problems, says a clinical psychology expert. In a commentary published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal Monday, Janet Cleveland says refugee claimants are likely to develop new or aggravate existing mental health issues such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or self-harm the longer they’re in a detention centre. “These are people who have suffered severe trauma, high levels of (post-traumatic stress disorder), high levels of depression and on top of that, you put them in prison,” said Cleveland, a McGill researcher who focuses on the psychological health of asylum seekers and who co-wrote the commentary. Read the whole article... |
Immigration news >