THE government was repeatedly warned of a high risk of suicides and self-harm in immigration detention and failed to implement changes that might have prevented deaths, according to documents obtained by the Herald.

A letter sent by the Detention Health Advisory Group, the government's panel of experts, 11 months ago warned of a high probability of more suicides after three people took their lives at the Villawood detention centre and lamented that its advice had been ''largely disregarded''.

"We have recognised the inadequacies in the care of individuals thought to be at risk of suicide and self-harm, which may constitute a serious breach of duty of care" ... chairwoman Louise Newman. Credit:Brendan Esposito

''The three recent suicides in Villawood have unfortunately affirmed our fears and they may have been preventable with appropriate implementation [of recommendations],'' the chairwoman of the panel, Louise Newman, said in the letter. ''For some time we have recognised the inadequacies in the care of individuals thought to be at risk of suicide and self-harm, which may constitute a serious breach of duty of care.''

The letter warned of ''serious implications of the department's failure to implement our recommendations regarding identification and response to mental health and psychological issues''.