A TEAM of health professionals and prison staff at Dublin’s Mountjoy Prison were presented with a prestigious award by the World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday in recognition of the success of an initiative for prisoners with mental health problems.
The support unit model with dedicated beds for these prisoners has been endorsed by inspector of prisons Judge Michael Reilly.
The “WHO Health in Prison – Best Practice Award” recognises the success of opening a high-support unit for prisoners with mental health problems so they can be monitored in a safe environment.
Until recently, in a practice condemned by the Council of Europe’s committee for the prevention of torture, prisoners in Mountjoy who became a risk to themselves or others were placed in isolation in observation cells. Since the new unit was opened last December, there has been a 35 per cent drop in the use of these cells.
The observation cells are padded cells where prisoners with psychological problems were essentially placed in solitary confinement. It is estimated about 6 per cent of prisoners who are on remand have mental health problems, while some 4 per cent of sentenced prisoners require psychiatric treatment.
Some 70 prisoners have benefited from the new facility to date; it provides an alternative environment that is less restrictive and provides a greater interaction with staff.
Dr Damian Mohan, the unit’s consultant forensic psychiatrist, said: “The high-support unit signifies a change in custom and practice in how individuals who are mentally ill are dealt with in the prison population. The advent of the unit improves conditions for those prisoners waiting for admission to the Central Mental Hospital – these prisoners can now be cared for in much more humane conditions.
“Sensory deprivation and social isolation are counter-therapeutic for these prisoners”, he added.
An analysis of those treated in the new unit at Mountjoy found that one-third had experienced psychotic symptoms. A further 29 per cent were referred due to the immediate risk of self-harm, while some 9 per cent of prisoners requiring high support were referred for treatment by the prison’s addiction psychiatry team. One prisoner was accommodated in the unit due to the acute risk he posed to others.
In terms of diagnosis, almost one- third of patients placed in the high-support unit were diagnosed with a major mental illness, while 22 per cent required short-term increased support for psychological stress but did not have a mental illness. Some 6 per cent were diagnosed with a personality disorder and 3 per cent of prisoners had a learning disability.
The best practice award for prison mental health was presented to the Mountjoy team at the WHO’s 2011 network meeting in Abano, Italy, yesterday.
