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People held in Australia's onshore and offshore detention centers are four times more likely to suffer mental distress compared to the general population, local media reported on Tuesday.
The Guardian uncovered information which shows up to 14.9 percent of those being held in detention centers such as those on Nauru or on Christmas Island suffer from severe mental distress, up 400 percent when compared to the general population.
Data from the International Health and Medical Services showed 12.6 percent of those held in offshore detention -- such as on Nauru -- suffered from severe mental distress, while 14.9 percent of those held in onshore detention -- such as on Christmas Island -- suffered mental trauma.
According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 3.5 percent of the general Australian population suffer similar levels of severe mental distress.
The data, taken from documents obtained by The Guardian under freedom of information, also said instances of mental distress were likely to be under-reported by those in detention, as the participation in screening was voluntary only.
"It should be noted that their participation in K10 (severe mental distress) screening is voluntary and that those with higher levels of distress are probably less likely to participate in screening, meaning that this percentage is likely an underestimate, " the document said.
The document also said there was a correlation between the length of time someone was held in detention and the likelihood of developing signs of severe mental distress.
"There appears to be a trend for K10 scores to increase with length of stay in detention," the document read.
"With under 12 percent of those staying 12 months or less scoring in the moderate to severe range, increasing to 27.9 percent for those remaining between 12 to 18 months, and to 31 percent for those remaining in detention for over 19 months."
