Australia today said, it would probe the high number of suicides and self-harm incidents among asylum seekers in immigration detention centres, including at the strife-hit Christmas Island site. The country's chief Ombudsman Allan Asher said, he was alarmed about the impact of long-term detention on mental health after more than 1,100 cases of threatened or actual self-harm were reported in the first half of the year.Australia has a policy of mandatory detention for asylum seekers arriving by boat, but has softened its stance in recent years to allow more women and children into the community as their refugee claims are assessed. According to data obtained by the ABC, the situation has become so serious at Christmas Island that the staff have been told to carry knives at all times so they can cut down detainees who have tried to hang themselves.