1877 (2024). Dr Tracey McLellan to the Minister of Corrections

1877 (2024). Dr Tracey McLellan to the Minister of Corrections: How many people in prison currently have mental health issues, and what is this as a percentage of the total prison population?

Hon Mark Mitchell: I am advised that previous research undertaken by Corrections in 2016 estimated that 62 percent of people in prison met the diagnostic criteria for either a mental health or substance abuse disorder within the last 12 months and 91 percent will meet these diagnostic criteria at some time over the course of their lives. Corrections’ research also suggested that these psychological disorders tend to go undetected and/or untreated prior to prison. To repeat this exercise for the purposes of answering the member’s question, Corrections would be required to review the individual files of every person in prison to determine the number of people with mental health conditions, this amounts to substantial collation and research. I am not prepared to ask my officials to carry out this task for the purposes of this response. However, I am further advised that pages 56 and 57 of the Corrections’ Annual Report 2022/23 provides an overview of the care provided to people with mental health conditions. I refer the member to the following link: https://www.corrections.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/50578/Annual_Report_2023_v20.pdf