Introduction If pre-school children are detained, it can potentially have lifelong effects on their learning and socialisation, and their attachment to family members and other persons.16 Developmental delays can be common if children are detained when aged less than 5 years.17 If children of primary school age see their parents disempowered and with deteriorating mental health, it can affect them negatively. So can a lack of access to age-appropriate toys and play activities.18 Detention interferes with the social and emotional development of teenagers, and puts them at risk of developing mental illness, emotional distress and selfharming behaviour. The detention environment does not provide them with the safe and supportive environment that children need at this stage of their life. As teenagers tend to imitate the behaviour of others, detention with adults who may be displaying self-harming behaviour is particularly concerning.19 Unaccompanied children are particularly vulnerable in detention facilities, as they do not have the support of a parent.20 Australian Human Rights Commission (2014), The Forgotten Children: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention, Sydney, Australian Human Rights Commission, p. 118. 17 Mares S, and Jureidini, J., (2004) ‘Psychiatric assessment of children and families in immigration detention clinical, administrative and ethical issues’, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Vol. 28, No. 6, pp. 520 - 6. 18 Australian Human Rights Commission (2014), The Forgotten Children: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention, Sydney, Australian Human Rights Commission, p. 134. 19 Ibid, p. 148. 20 Ibid, p. 169. Studies have also shown that, the more time a child spends in detention, the more likely it is that they will suffer psychological harm. 21 There is a correlation between the amount of time in detention and the severity of the psychological implications.22 Ø The impact of detention can persist long after the child has been released. Detention has undeniable immediate and long-term mentalhealth impacts on asylum-seeking children, mental-health experts report.23 Although some children recover, mental-health effects may continue to affect others for a long time, according to child psychiatrists who work with children after their release.24 Finally, the psychological impact of detention can affect the capacity of individuals to present their asylum claims and hence has adverse implications for the assessment of their credibility. 16 21 22 Ibid, p. 75. Robjant, K., Hassan, R., et. al. (2009), ‘Mental health implications of detaining asylum seekers: systematic review’, The British Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 194, No.4, pp. 306-312. 23 Dudley, K., Steel, Z., Mares, S., Newman, L. (2012), ‘Children and young people in immigration detention’, Current Opinion in Psychiatry, Vol. 25, No. 4, p. 290. 24 Newman, L. (2013), ‘Seeking Asylum – Trauma, Mental Health and Human Rights: An Australian Perspective’, Journal of Trauma and Dissociation, Vol. 14, No. 2, p. 218. 17