Kon Karapanagiotidis, the founder of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), joins Dr Kym Jenkins and Brianna Sleeth to discuss the Centre’s mission of providing holistic support to asylum seekers and refugees. Established 23 years ago, the ASRC aims to create a safe and welcoming environment for individuals who have experienced trauma and persecution. Its comprehensive range of services includes food banks, health and psychiatry clinics, legal assistance, educational programs and more. 

The discussion highlights the significance of advocacy and the crucial role psychiatrists play in promoting the rights and wellbeing of asylum seekers. It also addresses the challenges of burnout and the importance of self-care for professionals in this demanding field. 

The conversation sheds light on the deliberate cruelty and neglect experienced by asylum seekers in Australia’s offshore detention centres, including the denial of adequate healthcare, loss of dignity, as well as psychological torture and distress. The uncertainty and instability in their lives often lead to mental health crises, such as PTSD, depression, and suicidal ideation. 

For more information about the ASRC and ways to get involved, visit https://asrc.org.au/ 

Kon Karapanagiotidis OAM is a passionate humanitarian, changemaker, gardener, cook, public speaker and bestselling author. He is also a qualified lawyer, social worker, teacher and the Founding CEO of Australia’s largest human rights organisation for people seeking asylum, the ASRC.

Dr Kym Jenkins is a former President of the RANZCP and has served as Chair of the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges. She has held a range of roles as a Consultant Psychiatrist in both the public and private sectors and has a strong clinical and academic focus on the health and welfare of the medical profession. In her private practice, Dr. Jenkins specialises in consultation-liaison and women’s psychiatry. Dr Jenkins has had extensive involvement in psychiatry-related medical education, both within the RANZCP and externally. As a founding member of the RANZCP Network for Asylum Seeker and Refugee Mental Health, she served as Chair of the network until May 2024.   

Brianna Sleeth is a community health nurse at the ASRC. She is a registered nurse with three years of experience and is currently pursuing a Master of Mental Health Nursing. Brianna has worked with both adolescents and adults in psychiatric inpatient settings, where she has developed a strong skill set for addressing significant and complex mental health issues. In her free time, Brianna volunteers in prison settings and supports people experiencing homelessness on the streets of Melbourne. She is passionate about providing high quality, trauma-informed care to people seeking asylum as well as increasing access to essential mental health services. 

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This podcast is provided to you for information purposes only and to provide a broad public understanding of various mental health topics. The podcast may represent the views of the author and not necessarily the views of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists ('RANZCP'). The podcast is not to be relied upon as medical advice, or as a substitute for medical advice, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and should not be a substitute for individual clinical judgement. By accessing The RANZCP's podcasts you also agree to the full terms and conditions of the RANZCP's Website. Expert mental health information and finding a psychiatrist in Australia or New Zealand is available on the RANZCP’s Your Health In Mind Website.