Nauru refugee in intensive care

4:27 am on 27 August 2019

A refugee detained on Nauru by Australia is in intensive care in a Brisbane hospital after setting himself on fire.

Refugee advocate Ian Rintoul said the 36-year-old man set himself alight in front of a mental health doctor in an apparent suicide attempt on Friday.

Mr Rintoul said the Pakistani refugee was flown from Nauru to Brisbane by air ambulance on Saturday.

He said after six years, over 300 refugees remain on Nauru, a population with a high rate of mental illness.

In 2016, Iraninan refugee Omid Masoumali died after self-immolating on Nauru and a 31-hour delay in evacuating him to a hospital in Brisbane

An inquest into his death heard he almost certainly would have survived if he had reached an Australian hospital sooner.

The Nibok refugee settlement, Nauru. Photo: Pool / NZ Herald / Jason Oxenham

Where to get help

These are services across the Pacific for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.

In Tonga Lifeline +676 23000 or +676 25144

In Fiji Lifeline +679 667 0565

Fiji Womens' Crisis Centre

Phone: +679 3313300 (24 hours)

Mobile: +679 9209470 (24 Hours)

In Papua New Guinea Lifeline Port Moresby +675 326 0011

Tok Kaunselin Helpim Lain +7150 8000.

In Samoa: Lifeline +685 800-5433

In New Zealand:

Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.

Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357

Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.

Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7)

Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)

Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 (8am-12am), or email talk@youthline.co.nz

What's Up: online chat (7pm-10pm) or 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 children's helpline (1pm-10pm weekdays, 3pm-10pm weekends)

Kidsline (ages 5-18): 0800 543 754 (24/7)

Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254

Healthline: 0800 611 116

Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

Where to get help:

Lifeline: 0800 543 354