The mental and physical health difficulties of children held within a British immigration detention center: a pilot study.

Objective: The present study aimed to assess the mental and physical health of children held within a British immigration detention center.

Method: A total of 24 detained children (aged 3 months to 17 years) were assessed with their parents or carer after being referred by a registered legal charity. Thirteen were seen by a pediatrician alone, 4 by a psychologist alone, and 7 by both professions using semi-structured clinical interviews.