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| Suicide rate in British female prisons hits new record |
| By The Independent |
| Published: 04/29/2003 |
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As many as two-thirds of women in British prisons are now suffering from a mental disorder, with record numbers being driven to suicide because of a lack of adequate care. More than half are suffering from a personality disorder yet are being locked up for hours at a time in overcrowded cells without proper psychiatric support, drug treatment or secure care. These shocking findings will be published next month by the Prison Reform Trust. Its report, called Troubled Inside, highlights the plight of women with mental health problems in British prisons, and is backed by the Nuffield Foundation. Juliet Lyons, the Trust's director, said: 'Locking up women who are mentally ill is a crime in itself. These women need a range of community mental health services, including psychiatric support and drug treatment and in some cases in-patient or secure care. They do not need to be locked up for hours on end in an overcrowded prison with their medication administered through a metal flap in their cell door.' There are currently more than 4,500 women in prison compared with just over 1,500 10 years ago. The major area of concern is the unprecedented number of suicides by female prisoners. Seven women have already taken their own lives in the first quarter of 2003. Last year, there were a total of nine female suicides, the highest annual death toll on record. Women make up only 6 per cent of the prison population but account for 11 per cent of self-inflicted deaths. Half of the women in prison are on prescribed medication such as antidepressants or anti-psychotic medicine. Three of the women who died this year were aged under 21. The Prison Service said that it recognised that self-harm was a particular problem among women offenders and is working with the Department of Heath to improve mental health services in prisons. |
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