MILAN – Lombardy Region has updated the plan for the prevention of suicide risk in prisons: the new document was drawn up by a working group of representatives of the health and prison areas. The aim is to provide common guidelines for each penitentiary institution to take more effective action to take charge of prisoners with mental health problems.
Penalties made tougher by Covid restrictions
The update of the plan was also necessary after the Covid emergency because of the restrictions adopted to avoid contacts between the detainees and the outside world. These have made the conditions of punishment harsher. A difficult picture that has also caused an increase in the suicide rate in prison, as noted by the Department of the Penitentiary Administration of the Ministry of Justice.
Attention to detect signs of discomfort
«This is a topic we must discuss and face with much attention,» said the vice president and city council member to the Welfare of Lombardy Region on August 19. «One solution could be to involve the actors of the penitentiary and health system, including prisoners, activating a network of attention to detect any signs of discomfort and emotional suffering related to a risk of suicide. It is clear that prevention is fundamental».
Health personnel hard to find
«Prisons, just like other sanitary environments, suffer from the difficulty of finding sanitary staff,» added the vice president. This is why we intend to involve specialised doctors, as it happens in Emergency Rooms». The regional suicide risk plan must be transmitted to the various territorial, health and prison structures to jointly define, in each prison, a “local prevention plan”.
