Human rights trauma and the mental health of West Papuan refugees resettled in Australia.

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  • Author(s): Rees S;Rees S; Silove DM; Tay K; Kareth M
  • Source:
    The Medical journal of Australia [Med J Aust] 2013 Aug 19; Vol. 199 (4), pp. 280-3.
  • Publication Type:
    Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Language:
    English
  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Australasian Medical Publishing Co Country of Publication: Australia NLM ID: 0400714 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1326-5377 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 0025729X NLM ISO Abbreviation: Med J Aust Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Publication: : Pyrmont, NSW : Australasian Medical Publishing Co.
      Original Publication: Sydney : Australasian Medical Pub. Co.
    • Subject Terms:
      Emigrants and Immigrants/*psychology ; Human Rights/*psychology ; Mental Health/*ethnology ; Refugees/*psychology ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/*ethnology; Adult ; Australia/epidemiology ; Emigrants and Immigrants/statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Papua New Guinea/ethnology ; Refugees/statistics & numerical data ; Risk Factors ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/psychology ; Violence/psychology ; Violence/statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult
    • Abstract:
      Objectives: To document the extent and nature of human rights violations and other traumatic events reported by West Papuan refugees resettled in Australia and to assess trauma-related psychological disorders, distress and disability.
      Design and Setting: Australian-based sample, mixed-methods design with 44 participants, conducted in Australia between October 2007 and November 2010 in communities in North Queensland and Melbourne.
      Participants: West Papuan refugees aged 18 years and over (88% response rate).
      Main Outcome Measures: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (Harvard Trauma Questionnaire) and premigration potentially traumatic events (PTEs), psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale [K10]), post-migration living difficulties, days out of role.
      Results: Of the 44 West Papuan refugees, 40 reported one or more PTE, including inability to access medical care for family (40), lack of food and water (39) and lack of access to medical treatment (38). The most frequent postmigration stressors were separation from and worries about family members remaining in West Papua (43) and being unable to return home in an emergency because of ongoing conflict (41). Twenty-six participants reached a lower threshold for PTSD symptoms of 2.0, and 13 reached the clinical threshold of 2.5. Fourteen reported severe psychological distress.
      Conclusions: West Papuan refugees resettled in Australia report a wide range of premigration PTEs including human rights violations, as well as symptoms of PTSD and distress. The data add to concerns about the state of human rights and mental health among West Papuans.
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20130830 Date Completed: 20131119 Latest Revision: 20190902
    • Publication Date:
      20231215
    • Accession Number:
      10.5694/mja12.11651
    • Accession Number:
      23984787