Irish Penal Reform Trust

Mental Health

Mental illness in the context of prison must be viewed as a health issue requiring an effective and prompt health intervention, including diversion to appropriate treatment services outside prison. However, people with mental health issues continue to enter the prison system due to a lack of access to appropriate mental health services in the community.

This section includes posts on issues relating to mental health in prison and the wider criminal justice system. If you are looking for general health-related information, click here.

High Level Taskforce on Mental Health and Addiction – 1st Annual Progress Report (September 2022-2023)

20th February 2024

On 15 February 2024, the Department of Justice and the Department of Health published the first annual progress report of the High Level Taskforce on Mental Health and Addiction. The progress report covers the period between September 2022 - and September 2023 and was completed in December 2023.

RTÉ: Mental health care needs not fully met in some prisons - report

20th February 2024

IPRT comments in the RTÉ story covering the report by the Office of the Inspector of Prisons (OIP) which has highlighted that mental health care needs are not being fully or satisfactorily met in any of the seven prisons it inspected, with conditions repeatedly being described as "degrading".

Irish Examiner: Prisoners 'at risk of harm' from critically low number of mental health staff

20th February 2024

The Irish Examiner writes about the publication of a report by the Office of the Inspector of Prisons (OIP) Thematic Inspection: An Evaluation of the Provision of Psychiatric Care in the Irish Prison System February – March 2023. IPRT Executive Director, Saoirse Brady, responds.

Health Needs Assessment for the Irish Prison Service report published

11th May 2023

Irish Penal Reform Trust notes the publication on 11 May 2023 by the Department of Justice and the Department of Health of the Health Needs Assessment (HNA) for the Irish Prison Service.

Round-up: Access to Rights for People Detained in Secure Forensic Mental Health Facilities in Ireland

25th October 2022

On Tuesday 25 October 2022 the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) and Irish Criminal Bar Association (ICBA) held a Prison Law Seminar on the topic of Access to Rights for People Detained in Secure Forensic Mental Health Facilities in Ireland.

Access to Rights for People Detained in Secure Forensic Mental Health Facilities in Ireland

25th October 2022

The Irish Penal Reform Trust launched an independently commissioned scoping study on access to rights for people detained in secure forensic mental health facilities in Ireland on Tuesday 25 October 2022....

High Level Task Force Report and Recommendations will result in a more humane criminal justice system and safer society for all

30th September 2022

The Irish Penal Reform Trust has today (Fri 30 September 2022) welcomed the Final Report and recommendations of the High Level Task Force to consider the mental health and addiction challenges of those who come into contact with the criminal justice sector. 

Irish Prisons and COVID-19: Lessons Learned from the Pandemic

13th September 2022

As Ireland emerges from the emergency phase of the pandemic, there are many lessons for the authorities in regards the management of COVID-19 within prisons. In this briefing, IPRT makes nine recommendations for action.

Recent commitments to reducing imprisonment are welcome, but new report suggests there is a long way to go

8th September 2022

MEDIA RELEASE: In response to the publication of the Irish Prison Service Annual report 2021, IPRT is calling on the Minister for Justice to make immediate efforts to adequately and appropriately resource the proposed actions in the recently published Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform.

IPRT welcomes UN Human Rights Committee’s clear focus on key human rights issues impacting people in prison

27th July 2022

MEDIA RELEASE: IPRT welcomed the clear focus by the UN Human Rights Committee on issues pertaining to people deprived of their liberty including prison overcrowding, access to adequate mental healthcare, the failure to publish reports relating to the Dóchas Centre, the overrepresentation of Travellers in the penal system and the need to ratify OPCAT.

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