Mentally-Ill Manus Asylum Seeker Needs Urgent Help

Mentally-Ill Manus Asylum Seeker Needs Urgent Help

Refugees and asylum seekers on Manus Island have raised serious concerns about the mental health of a 28 year-old Iranian man, they say has become delusional.

After the man seriously self-harmed late last week (19 January), he was taken to the Lorengau hospital for his physical injuries but there is no mental health treatment available on the island.

He self-harmed again the following day.

His roommates have been moved to another detention area, because of fears for their safety.

“We are extremely concerned for the Iranian man’s welfare; he has a critical mental condition and is at serious risk. All the attempts by asylum seekers on the island to get serious help have failed,” said Ian Rintoul, from the Refugee Action Coalition, “Since the refugees were forced out of the detention centre, the mental health crisis on Manus has escalated.

“Without urgent intervention, we fear that there will be a repeat of suicides like those that rocked Manus Island last year. This man is displaying similar disturbed behaviour and symptoms to those of another Iranian asylum seeker, Hamed, who was one of the suicide victims last year. He no longer recognises people and is completely withdrawn.

“The Minister needs to act urgently to evacuate the Iranian man to get him the help he needs. And he needs to act urgently to get all the refugees and asylum seekers off Manus Island so they can get the health care, the security and protection they need.”

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