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Symbolic violence and disempowerment as factors in the adverse impact of immigration detention on adult asylum seekers’ mental health

Author

Listed:
  • Janet Cleveland

    (CIUSSS Centre-Ouest de l’Ile de Montréal)

  • Rachel Kronick

    (Jewish General Hospital
    McGill University
    Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital)

  • Hanna Gros

    (University of Toronto)

  • Cécile Rousseau

    (CIUSSS Centre-Ouest de l’Ile de Montréal
    McGill University)

Abstract

Objectives The first objective of this qualitative component of a mixed-methods study is to provide a descriptive account of adult asylum seekers’ experience of detention in Canadian immigration detention centers. The second objective is to identify the main underlying factors accounting for their reported feelings of distress. Methods Researchers interviewed 81 adult asylum seekers held in two Canadian immigration detention centers concerning their experience of detention. Participants were drawn from a sample of 122 detained asylum seekers who had completed structured questionnaires about mental health and detention conditions. Results Asylum seekers expressed shock and humiliation at being “treated like criminals.” Detainees felt disempowered by the experience of waiting for an indeterminate period for the outcome of a discretionary decision over which they have little control, but which will determine their freedom and their future. For trauma survivors, detention sometimes triggered retraumatization. Conclusions Detention, even for brief periods in relatively adequate conditions, was found to be detrimental to asylum seekers’ mental health. This adverse impact appears to be largely attributable to the combined effect of two factors: symbolic violence and disempowerment.

Suggested Citation

  • Janet Cleveland & Rachel Kronick & Hanna Gros & Cécile Rousseau, 2018. "Symbolic violence and disempowerment as factors in the adverse impact of immigration detention on adult asylum seekers’ mental health," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 63(8), pages 1001-1008, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ijphth:v:63:y:2018:i:8:d:10.1007_s00038-018-1121-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s00038-018-1121-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Coffey, Guy J. & Kaplan, Ida & Sampson, Robyn C. & Tucci, Maria Montagna, 2010. "The meaning and mental health consequences of long-term immigration detention for people seeking asylum," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(12), pages 2070-2079, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Phillimore, Jenny & Cheung, Sin Yi, 2021. "The violence of uncertainty: Empirical evidence on how asylum waiting time undermines refugee health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    2. Julia Manek & Andrea Galán-Santamarina & Pau Pérez-Sales, 2022. "Torturing environments and multiple injuries in Mexican migration detention," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Phillimore, Jenny & Cheung, Sin Yi, 2021. "The Violence of Uncertainty: empirical evidence on how asylum waiting time undermines refugees’ health," SocArXiv mzsnf, Center for Open Science.
    4. Oliver Razum & Christopher Jordens & Yudit Namer & Stephanie Short, 2019. "Against camps," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 64(6), pages 819-820, July.

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