NEW DELHI: Behind the prison walls of India, mental health problems affect a considerable number of inmates. According to the last ‘Prison Statistics India‘ reportup to 7,524 prisoners were reported to be suffering from mental illness in 2020. Of the 1,887 inmates who died in prisons that year, 189 (10%) were victims of unnatural causes, with as many as 156 inmates being caused by suicide.
While in percentage terms, those suffering from mental illness accounted for 1.5% of the 4.88 lakh inmates housed in various prisons as of December 31, 2020, the data It helps to focus on the little-discussed topic. Of those with mental illness, more than 42% were convicted, 57% were on trial, and 0.6% were in custody.
Death data shows that from 2015 to 2020, natural deaths accounted for more than 85% of all prison deaths. Of the 1,642 natural deaths in 2020, 1,542 were due to disease and 100 were due to aging. Of the total deaths from disease, the majority of deaths were reported from heart problems (480), followed by lung diseases (224) and kidney problems (92).
Among the 189 unnatural deaths in prisons, death by suicide represents 82.5% of such deaths. Data from 2015 to 2020 shows that the number of unnatural deaths in 2020 was higher than the numbers reported in the previous three years. In 2016, 231 deaths were reported in this category, the highest in this five-year period.
Regarding hospital visits, in the chapter on the reasons for movement of inmates out of prisons, it is noted that more than 3.6 lakh times inmates went out for medical care in 2020. The number of visits was much higher in 2019 as inmates went to hospitals for medical problems more than 4.8 lakh times.
While in percentage terms, those suffering from mental illness accounted for 1.5% of the 4.88 lakh inmates housed in various prisons as of December 31, 2020, the data It helps to focus on the little-discussed topic. Of those with mental illness, more than 42% were convicted, 57% were on trial, and 0.6% were in custody.
Death data shows that from 2015 to 2020, natural deaths accounted for more than 85% of all prison deaths. Of the 1,642 natural deaths in 2020, 1,542 were due to disease and 100 were due to aging. Of the total deaths from disease, the majority of deaths were reported from heart problems (480), followed by lung diseases (224) and kidney problems (92).
Among the 189 unnatural deaths in prisons, death by suicide represents 82.5% of such deaths. Data from 2015 to 2020 shows that the number of unnatural deaths in 2020 was higher than the numbers reported in the previous three years. In 2016, 231 deaths were reported in this category, the highest in this five-year period.
Regarding hospital visits, in the chapter on the reasons for movement of inmates out of prisons, it is noted that more than 3.6 lakh times inmates went out for medical care in 2020. The number of visits was much higher in 2019 as inmates went to hospitals for medical problems more than 4.8 lakh times.
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