Vaccinate prisoners and staff on priority basis: MHA

In a handbook titled 'dealing with mental health issues in prisoners during Covid-19', the NIMHANS has suggested that there should be a mechanism available within the prison to identity prisoners having mental health issues and to facilitate prisoners with psychological issues to approach concerned authorities for arranging referral and support.

New Delhi: Being aware of the fact that the current Covid-19 pandemic has severely affected the prison inmates and staff, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued two separate handbooks to states to fight against the pandemic in the prison atmosphere.

Prepared by Bangalore based Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience (NIMHANS), the handbooks suggested vaccinating prisoners and staff on a priority basis.

The handbooks issued by the MHA comes at a time when prisons across India have already witnessed the death of several inmates due to SARS-CoV-2 infections.

"Taking cognizance of the challenges faced by prison inmates and prison staff, the ministry has engaged with the NIMHANS to prepare guidelines for addressing the mental health needs of prisoners and prison staff with a view to empowering them in managing Covid-19 and related issues," the MHA said.

During this period of the Covid-19 pandemic, prison staff has also been working under tremendous pressure and may have faced challenges in performing their duty while safeguarding themselves from catching the infection, thereby resulting in mental stress and strain for them, the ministry noted.

In a handbook titled 'dealing with mental health issues in prisoners during Covid-19', the NIMHANS has suggested that there should be a mechanism available within the prison to identity prisoners having mental health issues and to facilitate prisoners with psychological issues to approach concerned authorities for arranging referral and support.

"Testing of Covid-19 should be available for all prisoners when they develop symptoms or if they are a high-risk contact with Covid-19 positive as per ICMR guidelines," it said.

It also recommended for efforts to be made to connect prisoners with family at regular intervals through video conferencing.

"Access to treatment in prison for the prisoners and the prison staff needs to be a priority. To enhance care in prison, immediate steps are required to address this concern. Special medical and mental health challenges are posed by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic," said NIMHANS director Dr Shekhar P Seshadri.

In the second handbook titled "Dealing with mental health issues in prison staff during Covid-19", the issue of stigma in prison and correctional settings have been highlighted.

"Stigma and the resultant behaviour and practices have been shown to increase community transmission as it limits early detection. Stigmatised persons are likelier to attempt suicides and have worse health outcomes than others," the handbook pointed out.

Asserting that dealing with mental health issues in prison staff is a major concern, it suggested that dedicated counsellors should be made available to address the mental health issues of the prison staff.

"As prison staff has been designated as frontline workers by the government, monetary compensation may also be disbursed to the family members of prison staff, in case of their death due to Covid-19 infection while discharging their duties by the appropriate state governments," the guidelines said.

It further said that spare oxygen cylinders and basic amenities to be reserved for staff and their family members who may need these in case of emergency related Covid-19 infection.