MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OF PRISONERS: SOCIOLEGAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Mental health is one of the important areas of public health issues. This area becomes more significant topic
considering the present existing pandemic situation and consistent lockdown. However, the issue of mental
health of prisoners/inmates is one of the glaring example where existing aliment was ignored many times in the
past. In fact the recent law of Mental Healthcare measures passed in the year 2017 plays a significant role where
important obligations were imposed upon on prison staff to handle it with great sensitivity. But the matter of
contemplation is that the challenges faced in its implementation and lack of social and legal literacy on different
issues of mental health, its identification, and treatment within the prison administration. It is important to
comprehend as to how the creation of psychiatric clinic in prison premise can address such issues where the
subject of psychiatry is looked upon with great suspicion and highly misunderstood in the society. The paper
will analyse the role of government and judiciary in addressing the issue of mental health and conducive
environment in prison administration.