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Mc Aleer supports call for increased mental health provision for offenders
Published: 16 March, 2010
Councillor Declan Mc Aleer
Commenting in response to a report from the Criminal Justice Inspection which highlights the inadequacy of services for people with mental health problems who are imprisoned, local Councillor Declan Mc Aleer said:
"I am currently working with the family of a young person who has profound mental ill health issues but has found themselves imprisoned.
"It has been the experience of this family and many others in the same situation, that the appropriate psychiatric and psychological services are not available within such institutions to deal the individuals complex mental health needs.
"Rather than treating these people as patients in need of care and support, they are frequently treated as 'felons' and find themselves being shuffled between court appearances, case conferences and confinement.
"This lack of a proper joined up approach between various agencies such as the health service and the criminal justice system has created a huge disjoint that is a key cause of increased anxiety and frustration within the individual and their family, and prolongs the day when they are restored to full health.
"At a strategic level, the efforts to have a proper joined up approach have been undermined by the fact that the functions of criminal justice, probation and prisons were reserved matters in Westminster, while the other agencies are devolved to the local Assembly.
"However, with the recent announcement on the transfer of justice powers to the north, I am more hopeful that such issues can be dealt with in a co ordinated and joined up manner. This would enable people with mental ill health to avail of the appropriate care and support services that they require rather than ending up being locked in prison".
Please note the following report:
NI needs high security psychiatric hospital
A secure hospital is needed in Northern Ireland to treat offenders suffering from serious mental health problems, a report by the Criminal Justice Inspection has said.
Currently 78% of male prisoners on remand here and 50% of female prisoners have personality disorders.
The inspection report which was published on Tuesday indicates that Northern Ireland's prisons hold a number of people with mental health problems who, it could be argued, should not be there.
"The criminal justice system needs to develop its screening and assessment processes to identify, at an early stage, those people who are experiencing mental health issues," said Dr Michael Maguire, Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland.
"Where possible, these individuals should be diverted away from the criminal justice system and custodial care and provided with suitable care in the most appropriate setting," he said.
"For those individuals who are imprisoned," the Chief Inspector said, "the aim should be to improve the quality of care within the system so that it is in a position to deal appropriately with a smaller number of people who may have complex needs."
Under funding
Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey said that the findings of the Criminal Justice Inspectorate report reflects the need for significant investment in mental health services across Northern Ireland.
Commenting on the report entitled 'Not a Marginal Issue' the Minister said:
"There has been years of historic underfunding of mental health services in Northern Ireland with services underfunded by 25% compared to the rest of the UK despite the fact that our need is 25% greater."
"The level of mental health services available here is in direct proportion to the money available to be invested and the fact is that the health service budget in Northern Ireland is worse off than in any other part of the UK, he said.
He said the report supports his view that more resources for mental health services should be made available to improve treatment, care and support for all members of our society who have mental health conditions.
"I will now carefully consider all of the recommendations within this report and their applicability to Health and Social Care Services. However, any suggestion that a new high secure hospital should be built in Northern Ireland must be considered in the context of the very scare resources available to the health service and to the entire population," he continued.
Responsibility for prison healthcare in Northern Ireland transferred to the Health and Social Care service in April 2008 and is managed by the South-Eastern Trust.
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