12 Percent of Prisoners Diagnosed With Serious Mental Illness, Correctional Service Says

Nearly three-quarters of individuals in federal prisons report mental health symptoms, with 12 percent having serious conditions, a Senate committee has heard.
Senator Joan Kingston, former president of the Nurses Association of New Brunswick, asked about mental health programs in prisons, particularly for those nearing release. “We don’t want people reoffending, and sometimes they seem to be set up to do exactly that.”
In response, Matson said, “A complete assessment of all of our offenders is a key priority for us because it helps both with their time in our institutions, their rehabilitation, and then ultimately their reintegration into the community, so it’s of prime importance.”
“At the same time, we’ve also been able to augment our in‑house capacity in terms of clinical social workers and nurses to better address the whole person, including the mental health needs of offenders who are within our care,” Doyle said.
“This funding was used to ensure an adequate complement of contract psychiatrists at designated sites. We have successfully filled 86% of positions allocated in the previous years, including healthcare staff in the RTCs, professional practice leads, and health staff in regular institutions,” the report stated.
The remaining funds support health-care staff in regional treatment centres, nursing services at 10 locations, and health staff in regular institutions.