Key points

A refugee is someone who has a well-founded fear of persecution because of their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. It makes no difference if a refugee is rich or poor, or how they arrive in Australia: what matters is that they are at risk of, or have experienced, persecution.
- An asylum seeker is a person who has sought protection as a refugee, but whose claim for refugee status has not yet been assessed. Australia is required under the refugee convention to provide asylum seekers with an opportunity to seek protection, regardless of whether they have entered Australia with or without a valid visa.
It is a human right to seek freedom from persecution in other countries. This right is set out in international law.
- Some (but not all) refugees may have mental health problems based on their previous experience of loss and trauma and sometimes related to how they are treated when they arrive Australia.
- Prompt and appropriate mental health care is critical to ensure that any psychological issues are resolved. It is also critical that the process for handling asylum seekers does not create mental illness with long term consequences for the individual and the community.
There is overwhelming evidence that detention is damaging to mental health, over and above any pre-existing illness or trauma. This effect is worse when the detention is offshore and in remote locations where there is little or no mental health or other legal, medical or language support.
In general, detention is only acceptable if it is brief, absolutely necessary, and used when all other options have been exhausted.
Further harm to mental health is caused when asylum seekers are issued with temporary visas, endure prolonged refugee assessments or are given limited access to support, work opportunities or services.
The way refugees and refugee issues are depicted in the media impacts on refugees. It is important that positive and accurate stories are reflected, and that myths and negative stereotypes around refugees and asylum seekers are challenged.

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