NHRC Recommends ‘Screening Inmates’ Mental Health of Prisoners

The National Human Rights Commission has issued an advisory to the Centre, states, and UTs recommending among other things that mental health screening must be included in the initial health screening report of every prisoner in light of the observation that the majority of unnatural deaths of prisoners in jails occur by self-harm. Additionally, it says that periodic refresher training sessions for prison staff must include a mental health literacy component in their first training.

In its report, the commision expresses alarm over the rising number of self-harm cases in Indian prisons in recent years. Eighty percent of unnatural deaths in jails are self-harm. The most frequent means of self-harm is by hanging (93%), followed by poisoning, self-inflicted injury, and drug overdose. The human rights organisation also suggested enhancing the environment and architecture of prisons to lessen inmate self-harm attempts. The NHRC emphasized the importance of ensuring that barracks and lavatories, which are frequent sites for self-harm, remain free from anything that could serve as a hook or hanger, such as grills, fans, hooks, and iron rods.

Additionally, it recommended promoting phone calls and visits from the prisoner’s family members to avoid detainees from becoming agitated. So, In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Bureau of Police Research and Development, and each Director General-Prisons, the commission detailed its suggestions. Devendra Kumar Singh, the secretary general of the NHRC, also requested a ‘Action Taken Report’ on the recommendations within three months.

Focus on important regions

The Centre, States, and UT Administrations should take action in eleven important areas, according to the advisory. These include adding more employees and filling open positions, educating inmates and prison employees, assessing inmates’ mental health at the time of intake, The issue of addiction among prisoners, collaborative framework for mitigation, supervision, and monitoring of at-risk inmates, Respect for the pertinent law provision, improved jail design and surroundings, improved prison housekeeping and strengthened visitor system.

Other suggestions

• The appropriate jail staff must keep ropes, glass, wooden ladders, pipes, and other tools necessary for building repairs in their custody.

• Inmates should keep acids, phenyls, and other corrosive cleaners used on surfaces and in toilets away from them.
• Authorities should closely monitor and check inmates frequently to ensure they do not make ropes out of their blankets and sheets or attempt to injure themselves.
• Determine the location or area of the prison where these crimes are most likely to occur, and take appropriate action, such as installing CCTVs.
• Every prisoner’s initial health screening report should include a mental health screening.
• Appropriately increasing the strength of the prison staff should include the inclusion of mental health specialists, with a focus on filling open positions for prison welfare officers, probation officers, psychologists, and medical staff.
• The fundamental training for prison workers must include a section on mental health literacy. There should be recurring refresher training.
• Each prison barrack’s chosen staff member must receive training in CPR and first aid, especially when dealing with attempts at hanging, bleeding from self-inflicted wounds, or consuming hazardous drugs.

Few More-

• Regular staff monitoring and pairing with a prisoner “buddy” who has received training in psychological first aid

• In compliance with applicable legislation, a sufficient number of telephones must be provided for the prisoner to communicate with friends or family.
• To ensure the necessary assurance, counseling, and mental support. It is important to contact the family members of at-risk convicts and actively encourage them to visit the prisoners, offering emotional support.
• Government initiatives to promote entrepreneurship may involve long-term skilled inmates.
• To improve mental health care in prisons, the World Health Organisation (WHO) developed the “Gatekeeper Model,” which is used to train carefully chosen inmates to spot those who may be suicidal.
• Regular visits from mental health care providers and de-addiction specialists will be made as part of the measures taken to address the problem of addiction among convicts.

• To channel their energies positively and pass the time, prisoners need to have access to life-skills education and activities like yoga, sports, crafts, theatre, music, and dance, as well as appropriate spiritual and optional religious teaching And, Reputable NGOs can aid in accomplishing this, if necessary.
• Increased access to resources for career counselling, financial independence, and upskilling.

“A mental health screening” should be part of every prisoner’s initial health examination report. So, It stated that they should fill positions for prison welfare officers, probation officers, psychologists, and medical personnel, and appropriately increase the strength to include mental health professionals.