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Major conference highlights needs of prison population
More than 6,000 prisoners pass through the gates of Northern Ireland prisons each year and Prison Service statistics show that two thirds of all new inmates have the reading and mathematical ability of an 11 year old or younger.1
Furthermore, statistics from England and Wales indicate that 9 out of 10 prisoners have a diagnosable mental health problem, substance misuse problem, or both, while four out of five prisoners smoke, compared to one in four of the general population.² These are just some of the areas that will be under the spotlight today at the Promoting Healthy Prisons conference in Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn.
The conference has been organised by the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA) and the Northern Ireland Prison Service, with the aim of raising awareness of health and personal development issues in prison.
Speaking at the event, Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive of the HPA, said: “Today, the attention is on the needs of the whole prison community – not just prisoners. We are looking at the healthy prison approach, which involves all aspects of prison life that have an impact on health, including education and life skills, while at the same time addressing prisoners’ health needs through education and health promotion.
“The factors that make someone more likely to re-offend, for instance, lack of education or employment, substance misuse, poor housing, and weak social and family links, are the same factors that contribute to poor health.
“The healthy prison approach provides a valuable opportunity to improve prisoners’ levels of learning and self-esteem, which can increase their capacity to reach their full potential when released, and as a result, reduce the likelihood of re-offending.”
The conference covers a wide range of topics, including implementing a smokefree prison, exploring opportunities to promote the health and wellbeing of prison staff, resettlement issues for ex-prisoners, substance misuse and mental health.
Professor Roy McClelland, Chairman of the Bamford Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability (NI), highlighted priorities for mental health, as detailed in the Bamford Review, a recent report showing the new vision for mental health in Northern Ireland.
He said: “Mental health promotion for people within the Criminal Justice System means recognising both the vulnerability of our prisoners and the toxicity of our prisons. It means reform and modernisation of our prisons as part of a wider reform of mental health services and a wider community strategy for mental health promotion. It means addressing issues upstream. Within our prisons, the challenge is to create a prison environment that actively promotes mental health.”
The conference provides the opportunity to share information on what is effective at improving health in prisons, as well as a chance to highlight the good work already carried out in prisons here.
Robin Masefield, Director, Northern Ireland Prison Service, concluded: “The theme and timing of this conference are highly appropriate given the fact that preparations are well underway for the transfer of lead responsibility for healthcare in prisons from the Prison Service to the Health and Personal Social Services. The issue of healthcare in prisons is not solely a prison issue – it is a wider societal issue.
“There is a much greater need for higher levels of cooperation between the health sector and the criminal justice sector. People with mental health disorders should be cared for in the most appropriate location – not the most convenient one. The transfer of prison healthcare gives us a tremendous opportunity to adequately address the health and social care needs of prisoners. Continuity of care is not only in the interests of the prisoner. It’s in all our interests, as by adequately addressing the needs of prisoners, they are being fostered towards successful resettlement, hence reducing the likelihood of re-offending.”
END
Notes
to editors:
There will be a media facility on Tuesday 12 September at Lagan Valley Island from 10:00 – 11:30am when Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive, HPA, Robin Masefield, Director, NIPS, and Professor Roy McClelland, Chairman, Bamford Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability (NI), will be available for interview.
Promoting Healthy Prisons has been developed in conjunction with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, the Probation Board for Northern Ireland, Opportunity Youth, Eastern Health and Social Services Board, Western Health and Social Services Board, South and East Belfast Health and Social Services Trust (HSST), Causeway HSST, and Down and Lisburn HSST.
Information about the conference can be found at:www.healthpromotionagency.org.uk/work/training/courses/prisons2006.htm
For
further information:
Contact Jenny Dougan or Rosie McGaughey on 028 9031 1611 / 9031 1514 or Brian McAvoy on 07884 490658.
1. Northern Ireland Prison Service committal statistics.
2. Promoting Health Prisons: A Shared Approach. DOH. 2002.
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