Prisoners with mild mental illnesses 'missing out'
3:23PM
Wednesday April 09, 2008
By Sue Eden
WELLINGTON - Prisoners with mild to moderate mental illness may not be getting the help they need because it is not clear which department has responsibility for them, a parliamentary committee heard today.
A report by the Office of the Auditor General, released last month, said the provision of mental health services for prisoners was under pressure because of rising prison musters but those with severe conditions were generally well cared for.
However, the auditors have expressed concern that those with mild to moderate mental illnesses might not be getting the help they need because it is 'unclear' which government agency is responsible for them.
Parliament's law and order select committee was today given a briefing by officials from the auditor-general's office who looked at mental health services for prisoners.
Andrew McConnell, law and order sector manager with the auditor-general's office, said the responsibility for mental health services in prisons was split among the Department of Corrections, Ministry of Health and district health boards, particularly the DHBs' regional forensic psychiatric services which provided specialist mental health services to prisons.
