6 Mental health care

The provision of mental health care in detention centres appears to have improved over the past few years, with the possible exception of the Northern centre.

Mental health staff take a more systematic and compassionate approach to assessment and monitoring of detainees than in previous years. Further, DIMA seems to take the recommendations of mental health staff more seriously than it has in the past.
HREOC Report Jan 2007

Mental health care has improved marginally since a blonde, blue-eyed woman was found in Baxter . One change has been that suicidal and depressed people are no longer thrown into isolation cells for weeks on end with hands cuffed to a belt, feet flexi-cuffed and  a protective helmut with nothing but a mattress and sometimes naked. This type of therapeutic environment is no longer used.
However people are not being released from detention even when their doctors recommend it. Instead they are transferred to anew hospital or facility and the doses of drugs are increased and now the electric shock therapy appears to be the new vogue. None of these people are awake before midday- a clear indication that the drug doses are increased until people are "emotionally flatlined" as one advocacy worker described it. They are so depressed and suicidal that it takes heavy medication to limit their capacity to kill them selves. Doctors try to keep their patients alive within the DIMA (now DIC ) proscribed environment.

DIMA  Casualty List – Currently  21 human beings being destroyed in mind and spirit.

DIMA (now DIC) Department of Immigration and Citizenship are currently spreading patients across 3 states, 5 hospitals plus motels apartments and detention centres.

VILLAWOOD

“FRJ” DIMA were told by a senior psychiatrist that this man was seriously mentally ill and must NOT be sent back to Baxter Detention Centre. So DIMA sent him to Villawood Detention Centre instead.

 “JP”- depressed and suicidal
Both of these men were transferred from Baxter. We do not have the numbers of all the mentally ill people in Villawood.

 
FLINDERS MEDICAL CENTRE

“M” in Flinders Medical Centre – currently undergoing 6 Electric shock treatments and has been told that he will have 6 more. This man is a highly intelligent I.T. professional. Already he says that he can not remember simple things.

He attempted suicide in Baxter and was taken to Flinders where he is held in the locked down ward. They would rather blitz his brain until he loses his memory than release him from the detention which is making him sick.

 TOOWONG PRIVATE HOSPITAL

“M” After nearly 6 years in detention this man is now being held in hospital where he is sliding deeper into depression and suicidal ideation.

 “RLL” Now in detention for 3 years. He was detained with his wife in Villawood. When she was 8 months pregnant, DIMA forcibly removed her from Villawood, put her on a plane and deported her. He is depressed and suicidal. He just sits and stares. Can you believe that an Australian politician from afamily friendly government authorised  and enforced  a separation between a young couple one month before the birth of their first child?

 “N” depressed and suicidal.

BAXTER:

At least 2 people depressed – suicidal

GLENSIDE

“IK” This man is depressed and suicidal. Has made several attempts.

 “R” deeply depressed

 FULLARTON

“HK” in detention for more than 2 years. This man had no history of mental illness until placed in Baxter Detention Centre where he became deeply depressed and suicidal. He was taken to Glenside for treatment and then removed from Glenside against his treating doctors advice to the Port Augusta Housing Project before being flown to Toowong hospital. After months there he was sent back to South Australia to community detention. His condition continued to deteriorate such that he was placed in Fullarton Hospital. Doctors in two states are gravely worried about this man but DIC will not listen.

 PORT AUGUSTA HOUSING

“Miss IH”   Deeply depressed.

“Miss Y”     Deeply depressed. These women are left in housing because they are quiet. No one cares about their pain.

3 women and 6 men –all severely depressed.

 GUEST APARTMENTS with GUARDS

I man depressed and suicidal.

Letters / emails/ faxes to the new Minister asking him to look at the mental health state of these people would be appreciated.

Offices                              1st Floor
651 Doncaster Road
Doncaster 3108
Victoria

Phone                                03 9848 9900

Fax                                    03 9848 2741

Email                                kevin.andrews.mp@aph.gov.au

                                           

Parliament House            MG 48
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone                                02 6277 7320

Fax                                    02 6273 4115