Reports describe severe and enduring mental health issues for many inmates, sometimes exacerbated by the risk of homelessness on release.
Concerns over the mental health of inmates at many of the country’s prisons have been flagged by prison committees, with many citing a shortage of treatment options and, in the case of Portlaoise Prison, the removal of Sky Sports for inmates during the pandemic.
Prison Visiting Committees visit prisons to hear any complaints made by prisoners.
Many reports by the Visiting Committees relating to activity in 2021 describe severe and enduring mental health issues for many inmates, sometimes exacerbated by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and aligned with other issues such as the prevalence of drugs and the risk of homelessness on release.
The Visiting Committee for Cork Prison expressed “serious concern about adequacy of mental health services for prisoners”, and in particular those on the waiting list to be admitted to the Central Mental Hospital.
