Upcoming Conference: Supporting Prisoners’ Mental Health

This is a heads up to our member groups who are in the Lower Mainland and any other members who might be in the area June 2. West Coast Prison Justice Society is presenting a conference about mental health in corrections, and especially the impact of solitary confinement on mental health.

The agenda will include discussion on:

  • the harms of solitary confinement
  • trauma and addiction
  • current standards for accommodating and treating prisoners with mental health issues, including personality disorders
  • implementation of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Mandela Rules)

Among the speakers will be Howard Sapers, Dr. Ruth Elwood Martin, Dr. Diane Rothon, and Dr. Mate. I’ve heard three of the four speak (Sapers, Martin and Rothon), and can attest to their passion about healthcare access and social justice within prison systems. Given what I’ve read about Mate’s work on impacts of trauma, I can imagine he too will be a powerful speaker.

Many of PAN’s member organizations work with people who have direct or indirect experience (through a family member) with provincial or federal corrections. People who have been in and out of prison may have had trouble accessing timely or adequate healthcare. Advocates for improving prison health services (Dr. Martin among them) are glad to see that the Provincial Health Services Authority will be taking over healthcare services to BC institutions, starting October 1. Martin is quoted as saying, “It’s in everybody’s best interest that their health and social needs are addressed so that when they leave correctional facilities, they are healthy.”

The conference discussions on ethics, advocacy and prison security concerns should prove to be interesting. This conference offers continuing education credits for physicians and lawyers. There is a sliding scale for registration. The registration deadline is May 15, but I spoke with one of the staff at West Coast Prison Justice Society/Prisoners’ Legal Services and she said people can register after the date provided seats are still available.

 

Learn more:

Complete event listing
West Coast Prison Justice Society/Prisoners’ Legal Services
Mental Health, Substance Use, HIV and HCV


Questions? Feedback?
 Get in touch!
Janet Madsen, Capacity Building and Knowledge Translation Coordinator,
[email protected]