COVID-19: prisons and other prescribed places of detention guidance

Click here for government advice

The mental health impact of therapy dogs in prisons

This report presents the evaluation findings of a pilot scheme to introduce two therapy dogs to people with histories of self-harm in three prisons in England’s North East. The pilot found that the therapy dogs had a calming influence on prisoners, helped increase coping skills and strategies, and provided a safe space for them to explore ways of expressing and processing emotions Click here for link

Puppy therapy to help prisoners with mental health and addiction launched for the first time in the UK

Puppy therapy to help prisoners with mental health and addiction is being offered in the first scheme of its kind in the UK. read newspaper article here

Better help needed from prison to work, says Centre for Mental Health report

Prisoners with mental health difficulties need better help following release from both health and probation services, according to a report published today by Centre for Mental Health. Read article here

Prison health: health and justice annual report

Public Health England (PHE) annual report on health trends in prisons and other prescribed places of detention (PPDs). Click here to go to government website to view report

Incarceration of parents impacts health of their children into adulthood

A new study found that young adults who had a parent incarcerated during their childhood are more likely to skip needed healthcare, smoke cigarettes, engage in risky sexual behaviors, and abuse alcohol, prescription and illicit drugs. Read ScienceDaily article here

Service specification: integrated mental health service for prisons in England

NHS England - 
This service specification describes a prison based integrated mental health service and replaces the earlier specification published in 2013.  Click here to read specification.

Mental Health In Prisons

House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts - This report says record levels of self-inflicted deaths and self-harm in prisons are a damning indictment. It concludes that the system for improving the mental health of prisoners isn’t working as it should. Click here for Kings Fund blog

Mental Health In Prisons

This report looks at the provision of mental healthcare in prison, and efforts to maintain prisoner well-being. We also considered routes out of prison, including continuity of care into the community and transfer to secure hospital. Click here for link to Kings Fund blog

Mental health in prisons

Government does not know how many people in prison have a mental illness, how much it is spending on mental health in prisons or whether it is achieving its objectives. It is therefore hard to see how Government can be achieving value for money in its efforts to improve the mental health and well being of prisoners. In 2016 there were 40,161 incidents of self-harm in prisons and 120 self-inflicted deaths.

Full Report (pdf - 434KB)

Prisons need profound culture change to prevent loss of life from suicide

Prisons need a profound culture change to prevent people from losing their lives through suicide, according to a report published today by Centre for Mental Health and the Howard League for Penal Reform.

Preventing suicides: staff perspectives, is the last of four reports from a year-long investigation into suicide in prisons by the two charities, find that distress, self-harm and suicide attempts are too often seen as manipulative rather than signs of need and vulnerability among prisoners. And staff shortages, a ‘toxic’ working environment and a failure to recognise the traumatising impact of prison for both prisoners and staff all contribute to an unsafe environment.

Prison study reveals high rate of self-harm after release and mental health failures

One in 15 newly-released prisoners attend hospital for self-harm but emergency departments are failing in their obligations to conduct comprehensive mental health assessments, new research shows.

A groundbreaking study of former prisoners, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry this month, has revealed high rates of self-harm following release from prison.

Five nations health and justice collaboration: psychoactive substances

This statement outlines how the European drug marketplace has become increasingly complex with an increasing number of new substances available alongside more established drugs and diverted medications.

The Five Nations Health and Justice Collaboration has been sharing increasing reports of NPS use in prisons across the five nations and their impact, not only on the health of the individual but also the prison regime, which has led to it to make this collective statement.

Preventing suicides: staff perspectives

Prisons need a profound culture change to prevent people from losing their lives through suicide, according to a report published today by Centre for Mental Health and the Howard League for Penal Reform.

Preventing suicides: staff perspectives, is the last of four reports from a year-long investigation into suicide in prisons by the two charities, find that distress, self-harm and suicide attempts are too often seen as manipulative rather than signs of need and vulnerability among prisoners. And staff shortages, a ‘toxic’ working environment and a failure to recognise the traumatising impact of prison for both prisoners and staff all contribute to an unsafe environment.

2016 becomes worst year ever recorded for suicides in prisons

More than 100 people have lost their lives through suicide in prisons in England and Wales so far this year, an all-time record, it can be revealed today as two charities publish new research on how to make jails safer.

The Howard League for Penal Reform has been notified of 102 people dying by suicide behind bars since the beginning of 2016 – one every three days.

With five weeks remaining until the end of the year, it is already the highest death toll in a calendar year since current recording practices began in 1978. The previous high was in 2004, when 96 deaths by suicide were recorded.