Concerning results: Medical experts told to suppress information about mental health problems among children in detention centres. Photo: Angela Wylie
The Immigration Department told medical experts to suppress new statistics showing alarming rates of mental health problems among a significant number of children in detention, an inquiry has heard.
During the third hearing of the Australian Human Rights Commission inquiry into children in detention, psychiatrist Dr Peter Young revealed the department had explicitly told International Health and Medical Services to ”withdraw” figures showing children in detention were suffering very high levels of mental illness.
The results ”are very concerning. It’s quite clear a large number of children have significant distress,” said Dr Young, a former IHMS medical director.
”The department has been very negative towards the results … They are concerned about what the figures are showing.