A 17-year-old girl and her family who sought asylum in Australia expect to be returned to the offshore detention centre on Nauru, despite a psychiatrist’s recommendation against it because of the girl’s severe mental health problems.
The teenager has written to the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, pleading that she and her family not be sent back to the processing centre.
The Iranian girl and her family were detained on Christmas Island after seeking asylum by boat. After six months they were sent to Nauru for seven months, then Brisbane for 11 months when the younger son needed medical care. The family was transferred to Darwin’s Wickham Point detention centre three weeks ago.
A psychiatrist’s report, written upon the girl’s release from hospital in Brisbane and seen by Guardian Australia, describes self-harm and attempted suicide.
“[She] also reported being at the receiving end of inappropriate sexual comments and propositions by security staff while at Nauru detention centre and was, understandably, very, very distressed about this,” the report said.
Multiple reviews and inquiries have revealed high levels of abuse and mistreatment at the Nauru centre. On Monday a Senate inquiry called for all children to be removed from detention on the island.
The psychiatrist’s report concludes: “Taking all the above into consideration, it is strongly recommended that [she] not return to Nauru for processing. Given her previous reported experience while at Nauru, it is highly likely that her mental state will acutely deteriorate, with a resulting acute escalation of her risk (namely suicidal ideation and another possible attempt), should she return to Nauru.”
Her father told Guardian Australia the girl was still very unwell and under constant monitoring by staff at the Wickham Point detention centre.
“She is not OK,” he said. “She is not eating, not sleeping, not everything.”
In her letter the girl told Dutton of her self-harm attempts and feelings of hopelessness, but said she had been encouraged to write by a friend.
“When I was in Brisbane, I was optimistic for my future,” she wrote. “Brisbane’s school organised activities for all the student. I was look forward that day attend the activities with my friend.
“But, I can’t make it. Me and my family has been transferred to Wickham Point. We being told we will be send back to Nauru maybe. My world is falling apart. I lost in darkness.”
The girl’s mother also has severe mental health problems and has had two miscarriages while in Australian detention. She is in a Darwin hospital, according to the father.
“She is 10 days in the hospital,” he said. “She is depressed, hungry and she cry.
“I tell case manager, mental health doctor, boss manager, that she is not good, she is very very bad, very depressed.”
The family’s lawyer, Sayed Kher, told Guardian Australia he was seeking an assurance from the federal government that there at least be a warning before a decision to transfer the family so they could access legal avenues to fight it.
On behalf of his clients, Kher has made two submissions seeking their release into the community and to reunite with family. A number of family members were in Sydney on bridging visas, he said, adding they had arrived on a different boat but at the same time as his clients.
The first submission was rejected in April, and the second, sent this month, has received no reply.
“I can confirm that [the family] are receiving appropriate care for their needs which is provided and coordinated by IHMS [International Health and Medical Services], and at a standard equivalent to that available to people in the Australian community,” said the April reply from the government’s immigration status response group.
“I can further confirm that the immigration detention placement of [the family] is currently considered to be appropriate to their circumstances. If there are any changes to the family’s circumstances, their case will continue to be progressed with due care and process.”
Kher said: “It is heartbreaking. By law there is nothing [left] but for the minister to exercise discretion but he does not want to.”
The case is similar to that of a five-year-old girl, also at Wickham Point, now before the supreme court. The girl’s family and legal team are seeking a legal injunction against their return to Nauru – also strongly recommended against by multiple medical professionals. The minister has previously flagged the family would be given at least three days’ warning of any transfer while legal action was under way.
Dutton’s office has not responded to questions.
