Behind bars, beyond help: India's prison mental health crisis

Despite the Mental Healthcare Act of 2017 mandating mental health services in prisons, implementation remains inadequate. Overcrowding, understaffing, and poor infrastructure exacerbate psychological distress among inmates, particularly undertrial prisoners who constitute over two-thirds of the prison population. Studies indicate a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders and suicides among inmates, yet systemic attention is lacking. With only 25 mental health professionals serving 1,330 prisons, the gap between policy and practice is stark, necessitating urgent reforms to address this silent emergency.

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