Tihar Jail: As soon as the name of Tihar Jail comes, the faces of the dreaded prisoners start appearing. You must have heard that some prisoners have a great status in jails. Due to their strong attitude and behaviour, they become leaders of other prisoners and then after adjusting to the prison environment, they live comfortably. But there are some prisoners whose breathing starts getting disrupted in jail. They become surrounded by such deep mental stress or anxiety that sometimes they even try to harm their lives.
Dr. Vivek Rustagi, head of the psychiatry department for the mental health of prisoners in 16 jails of Delhi including Tihar, says that around 150 new prisoners come every day from Tihar to Mandoli and Rohini jails. Some of these are convicted prisoners, some are new prisoners who have come for the first time on under trial or remand. There are some who have been to jail several times and are coming back again due to habitual crime.
The mental health of all these prisoners is also examined as soon as they come to the jail, apart from this, more than 30 psychiatrists or psychologists work daily for the prisoners living in the jails. During this time, it has been observed that the convicted prisoners in Tihar, who have been imprisoned for a long time and are serving their sentence, remain mentally healthy. They have very little anxiety or stress.
Whereas the most mentally disturbed prisoners in jails are those who come for the first time, under trial or on remand. Whichever prisoner comes to jail in this condition, it is seen that mental issues suddenly increase in them. Many times some prisoners even try to harm themselves due to mental problems.
Prisoners face these problems
, Tension
, anxiety
, problems sleeping
, Difficulty adjusting with other prisoners in the barracks
, Difficulty quitting drug or tobacco product addiction
, overcrowding
, lack of social support
, legal complications
, end of privacy
Jail administration does this work for prisoners
Dr. Rustagi says that there are rules regarding the health of prisoners in jail. Whenever a prisoner comes to jail on the first day, whether he is on remand, convicted or undertrial, he is first checked by a health expert. After this, a psychiatrist from the psychiatry department does his mental health assessment. If counseling is needed, it is given. OPD is also organized for prisoners. If there is any addiction then de-addiction services are provided. Counselors conduct orientation programs for all inmates.
Prisoners help prisoners
Dr. Rustagi tells that not only in Tihar but also in 16 jails of Delhi, a provision for mental health has been made. In these jails, some old and active prisoners are selected and made scribes. While living in the jail barracks, these scribes notice every activity of the newly arrived prisoners and weigh it from the point of view of mental health. If they have even the slightest doubt, they inform the mental health expert.
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Tags: Arvind kejriwal, Mental Health Awareness, Tihar Jail
FIRST PUBLISHED: April 11, 2024, 19:29 IST