Ms Donnah Vuma:

On the sleeping tablets issue that we raised, mental health is a serious issue for people living in direct provision. The biggest problem is that no services at all are being provided to us in the centres. In order for a person to be able to access the help that they need, one would have to attend his or her GP to receive direction to get the help that one needs. The biggest problem with that, as we already know, is that many people coming in to seek asylum are from traumatic backgrounds and have experienced some kind of trauma. It would be crucial and vital to have such a service at the reception centres. The only thing that is there at the moment is one or two posters in the centre signposting a person to places like the Samaritans or to Spirasi, for which one has to get an appointment through referral from one's solicitor or from one's GP. Often, it takes a very long time to receive an appointment to be seen by Spirasi. That is why we find that many people tend to turn to things like sleeping tablets or alcohol. They develop a lot of addictions like gambling because they are trying to find a way to cope with living in that situation.

Perhaps Mr. Khambule might give the recommendation now.