ISSUE NO. 6
NEWS University of Technology Sydney Student Publication
MINDS BEHIND BARS: EXPLORING MENTAL HEALTH IN PRISONERS
INSIDE UTS NEWS
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OPINION
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by Harry Easton Dear Joe Hockey, Afternoon Musings & We Shouldn’t Have to Cop it The health issues of prisoners within NSW jails are rarely placed in the national spotlight. There is a prevailing thought that those who have been convicted for a crime deserve to “do the time” behind bars. Yet the isolated environment of jail can be a trigger point for mental illnesses to develop. There is also strong evidence of mental illness sufferers making up a large majority of the personnel in NSW correction services. Brett Collins spent 10 years in jail during the 1970’s. He is now Co-ordinator of Justice Action, a community-based advocacy group that focuses on criminal justice and health systems, assisting those who suffer abuse form the system. He says that a 2007 Australian Bureau of Statistics report on female prisoners found that 78% of men and 90% of women in the 12 months before sentencing had come to the attention of mental health authorities. “Its a very significant statistic. Most people inside prison are likely to have a whole
range of other social disabilities and mental illness as part of a spectrum of problems they have.” In April 2015 a report by the Inspector of Custodial Services, Dr John Paget, titled Full House: The growth of the inmate population in NSW highlighted a range of issues NSW jails are facing due to increasing imprisonment rates across the state. Mr Collins said there were a variety of factors that led to prisoners suffering from mental health problems. “You’ve got isolation, loss of connection between people. It’s no surprise at all people end up with mental health issues. People are frightened when they are in jail; they feel as though they are likely to be preyed on. You end up with a tension for people trying to avoid interactions and avoid antagonising others.” Deputy Director of the Sydney Institute of Criminology, Dr Garner Clancey, said the prison environment could compound
underlying psychiatric issues that individuals may have. “A prisoner suffering from a mood disorder might find that symptoms are exacerbated by entering prison, especially if it is their first time. Anxiety associated with entering the prison system, possible disruption to previous medication regimes, difficulties adjusting to routines... all have the potential to exacerbate any pre-existing psychiatric illness.” The confined spaces of the prison cells can also heighten stress and anxiety. Prisoners placed in these conditions for extended periods of time, as the Inspector’s report found that NSW jails had the lowest number of out-of-cell hours in the country. Its findings show that for 16 hours a day, prisoners have no access to fresh air, programs, recreation activities, or contact with their families. Mr Collins says these restrictions are unacceptable.
FEATURE
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Daulatdia
SPORT
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SUBMIT TO VERTIGO
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Call out for new editors
REAR WINDOW
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