The Council of Europe and the European Union organised 1-day training sessions for 7 groups of medical and non-medical personnel of the penitentiary system, on managing prisoners with mental health problems, between 26 June and 3 July 2017. In total, up to 158 participants from different prisons of East as well as West Georgia were trained.

Participants learnt about different mental health related issues, including assessment and treatment approaches, medical examination upon admission to prison, psychiatric care and treatment plans, therapeutic and rehabilitative psychosocial activities in prisons etc. This was a follow up phase of training sessions held from 7 to 15 February 2017.

Prison staff who underwent the training have a better understanding of mental health problems and needs of prisoners and are equipped now with knowledge and skills that enables them to deal more effectively with these issues. Better understanding and management of prisoners with mental health problems is expected to improve the quality of life of both prisoners with mental disorders and the whole prison population; it also helps reducing stigma and discrimination that are often associated with mental health disorders. Ultimately, addressing the needs of people with mental disorders helps increasing their chances for more successful reintegration into the community after being released from the prison.

The training was part of the Council of Europe’s activities in support of improving the provision of mental health in Georgian prisons and other closed institutions. It was organised within the framework of the CoE/EU Partnership for Good Governance Project “Human Rights and Healthcare in prisons and Other Closed Institutions in Georgia II”.

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