In his recent report, the deputy justice ombudsman believes that all prisoners have not received adequate health care in the manner required by law.
Recently, the deputy judicial ombudsman expressed Maija Sakslin concerns about prisoners’ mental health. According to Sakslin’s report, which was published on Monday, the prisoners’ right to adequate mental health services is not realized.
The forensic psychiatrist Hannu Lauermawho is a medical expert at the psychiatric hospital for prisoners, agrees with the deputy justice ombudsman that more resources are needed for prisoners’ mental health services.
Hannu Lauerma is happy that the problem has been highlighted.
– It is exactly as it says in the report, says Lauerma.
The deputy justice ombudsman believes that the situation is partially even illegal. This applies especially to patients with ADHD who are forced to wait up to a year for an examination.
According to Sakslin, the situation is due to a lack of resources.
Hannu Lauerma says frankly why more money is needed.
– The prisoners have significantly more mental disorders than before. Many seriously mentally ill people also end up in prison.
The Ombudsman urges the ministries
The increasing number of prisoners and their state of health have meant that the current resources are not enough, says Hannu Lauerma. There are simply too few employees.
– For example, all specialist doctor positions in psychiatry have not been filled.
Lauerma hopes that the deputy justice ombudsman’s inspection visit to the prison health care unit in Turku will bring improvements in the prisoners’ health care.
The deputy justice ombudsman proposes in his report that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Ministry of Finance take measures to ensure sufficient resources in prison health care.
“You can’t hire people without money”
Hannu Lauerma says the solution is simple.
– As far as I can see, the solution is purely financial.
Can the situation be improved in other ways than with money?
– People have thought about it a lot and no one has come to anything. You can’t hire people without money. It’s a very simple equation.
Apart from the prisoners’ health care, prison care is generally in a bad state in Finland compared to how much money is used for prison care in other Nordic countries, says Lauerma.
– For example, in Norway, four times more money is spent on these services per prisoner than in Finland.
According to Lauerma, you also get results with the help of the money.
– Or is it a coincidence that the world’s lowest recidivism rate is precisely in Norway?
Hannu Lauerma hopes that the decision-makers take the deputy justice ombudsman’s observations seriously.
– I hope this rectifies the situation.
The article is a translation of the text Forensic psychiatrist hopes for more money for prisoners’ mental health services: “Prisoners are even more disturbed than before” of Yrjö Hjelt. Translation and processing of Nora Engström.