Lack of psychiatric care could cause more Manus Island deaths

From , 6:04 am on 6 October 2017

The lack of psychiatric treatment on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island has raised fear of more deaths when Australia's refugee detention centre is closed at the end of the month.

This week's apparent suicide of Tamil detainee Rajeev Rajendran closely follows that of the Iranian Hamed Shamshiripour, both of whom were living in the East Lorengau Transit Centre.

The Brigidine nun Jane Keogh is in Lorengau where she's been trying to help another mentally ill Tamil at the Transit Centre.

The detention centre's 700-odd residents are resisting pressure to move to the Transit Centre where Sister Jane told RNZ Pacific that vulnerable detainees are being dumped.

Detainees gather for the 64th day of protest on Manus Island.

Detainees gather for the 64th day of protest on Manus Island. Photo: supplied