The state of mental health among Irish prisoners

The CPT has identified several critical issues in the areas of inconsistent healthcare, shortage of facilities, inhumane living conditions and inadequate psychiatric care, all of which need to be resolved to better serve the needs of mentally ill prisoners. The initiatives outlined in the Irish Government’s 2006 ‘A Vision for Change’ policy document are necessary and commendable. However, the delay in follow through, specifically with respect to the development of a new forensic centre for mental health, casts doubts on the feasibility of the ten-year timeline set out in the policy framework. The most recent review of the policy, in July 2011, emphasised the need for continued improvement. Many mental health services across Ireland continue to have no collaborative referral and discharge protocol in place with primary care teams. Several of these same mental health centres do not have individualised patient management, and even lack guidelines for assessing and managing those deemed to be at a high risk of suicidal or violent behaviour. Moreover, the majority of psychiatric facilities across the country have witnessed little or no increase in their budget since the release of the ‘A Vision for Change’ policy six years ago. Advocacy and spotlighting of the issues related to the mental health of Irish prisoners needs to be augmented and maintained to ensure that current economic pressures do not take precedence over the basic human needs and healthcare requirements of these individuals. The CPT is scheduled to re-evaluate Irish prisons this year, and one can only hope that the situation of Irish prisoners with mental health disorders has improved.