Addressing mental health in prisons: an urgent challenge
Mental health is a critical concern not only for society as a whole, but also for a particularly vulnerable population: people living in prisons across the WHO European Region. Here, mental health disorders are the most prevalent health condition. The upcoming 2-day international conference, “Mental health and well-being in detention centres: prison health is public health”, underscores the predicament that, while places of detention restrict freedom, they should never compromise people’s access to quality health care.
The conference aims to support countries in progressing towards achieving their commitments under the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda and the WHO European Programme of Work (EPW) that promotes united action for better health, leaving no one behind.
International conference: major topics
The conference is jointly organized by the Netherlands Institute for Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology (NIFP), Ministry of Justice and Security of The Netherlands, Dutch Custodial Agency, and WHO/Europe.
It will bring together experts, decision-makers and stakeholders from around the world to share knowledge, best practices, and strategies for improving the mental health of all people in detention – from detainees to prison staff and health professionals working in these facilities.
The discussions will be focused on:
- human rights in detention centres
- lessons from people’s lived experience
- approaches to drug use and mental health in detention facilities.
How to participate
For in-person attendance, use the form provided on this webpage.
For virtual participation, use the links to follow live-streamed sessions online.
