Irish Prisons Being Used as “Psychiatric Wards,” Report Says

Irish researchers found that nearly two-thirds of female prison inmates and more than one-third of male inmates in Ireland have had mental health disorders at some point in their lives. The study, which was conducted by the country's Prison Services, also found that incarceration, at least among female prisoners, has led to increased levels of depression. Levels of depression among women who had been imprisoned for some time were twice as high as women just beginning their sentences. The report's authors conclude that it'll take “political will … to stop prisons being used as psychiatric wards” and recommended that diversion programs be set up so that people with mental illnesses can receive help. (Irish Examiner (http://www.irishexaminer.com/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=ireland-qqqm=ireland-qqqa=ireland-qqqid=9131-qqqx=1.asp), 7/24/06)