The impact of immigration detention on children's mental health: systematic review

There are 117.3 million people forcibly displaced because of war, conflict and natural disasters: 40% are children. With growing numbers, many high-income countries have adopted or are considering increasingly restrictive policies of immigration detention. Research on the impact of detention on mental health has focused on adults, although recent studies report on children.

Citation:
Priestley I, Cherian S, Paxton G, Steel Z, et al. The impact of immigration detention on children's mental health: systematic review. Br J Psychiatry. 2025.

Keywords:
Trauma; childhood; immigration detention; mental health; refugee health

Abstract:
There are 117.3 million people forcibly displaced because of war, conflict and natural disasters: 40% are children. With growing numbers, many high-income countries have adopted or are considering increasingly restrictive policies of immigration detention. Research on the impact of detention on mental health has focused on adults, although recent studies report on children.