A REVIEW of mental health provision at a young offenders’ institution where two people took their own lives has found the “risks and vulnerabilities” of some inmates are not given enough attention.
The report on HMYOI Polmont also found “systemic inter-agency shortcomings” of communication and information exchange across justice inhibit the management and care of young people entering and leaving the institution.
A review of mental health services for young people in custody was ordered by the Scottish Government following the death of Katie Allan, 21, and 16-year-old William Lindsay, who took his own life at Polmont 48 hours after being sent there on remand.
The report found being traumatised, being young, being held on remand and being in the first three months of custody increases the risk of suicide. It found there is a lack of proactive attention to the needs, risks and vulnerabilities of those on remand in the early days of custody, and highlights “the powerfully negative effect of social isolation”.
READ MORE: Parents of Katie Allen call Scottish prison death figures a 'massacre'
The HM Chief Inspector of Prisons report makes more than 80 recommendations, including that social isolation, a “key trigger for self-harm and suicide”, should be minimised, with a particular focus on those held on remand and during the early weeks in custody.
It also said a suicide and self-harm strategy should be developed by the Scottish Prison Service and NHS Forth Valley for young people.
Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “We take the mental well-being of people in prison very seriously and while the numbers of suicides by young people in custody are small, no death should be regarded as inevitable.
“Any suicide in custody is a tragedy that has a profound effect on family and friends, as well as prison staff, and my thoughts are with all those who have lost loved ones to suicide.
“Both the mental health review and routine inspection report highlight the hard work, compassion and dedication of frontline prison and healthcare staff who provide opportunities and support to young people in custody every single day.
“That dedication is clearly evidenced in the Chief Inspector’s finding that Polmont is a ‘leading edge’ prison where there are respectful relationships between staff and the people in its care and an impressive range of support offered to young people.”
He added: “The report contains 80 recommendations and we are clear that improvements can and should be made.”
Katie’s parents Stuart and Linda Allan, together with lawyer Aamer Anwar, met the Justice Secretary last year to discuss the issue.
The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) said the safety and wellbeing of everyone in its care continues to be a priority and work is already under way to strengthen the support available.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here