60800 (2024). Ingrid Leary to the Minister of Corrections

60800 (2024). Ingrid Leary to the Minister of Corrections: Does the Minister agree with forensic psychiatrist Dr Erik Monasterio's estimate that there are at least 20-30 people, in prison Intervention and Support Units, on any given day, that should be in hospital for mental health support instead; if so, what, if anything, will he do to address this?

Hon Mark Mitchell: I am advised that Intervention and Support Units (ISU) are where people in prison who are assessed as at risk of self-harm and suicide are closely monitored and have access to specialised care to improve their wellbeing prior to returning to their mainstream prison unit, or to support them while awaiting transfer to an inpatient mental health facility. In some cases, following appropriate approval processes, ISUs are also used for the purposes of medical oversight (physical or mental health). Corrections’ internal and contracted mental health teams provide care and treatment to people with mild to high mental health needs, while the Forensic Mental Health Services support people in prison with severe mental health needs (e.g. psychotic disorders). All people in prison can access mental health treatment irrespective of whether they are in the Intervention and Support Unit or the wider prison setting. When a person has a severe mental illness, is declining treatment, and/or is not benefiting from the forensic mental health services offered in prison, they may need to be admitted to a forensic inpatient service to receive compulsory care under the Mental Health Act 1992. Corrections services are not designed, resourced, or legislated to provide this level of care. I am also advised that data collated over a 10-week period earlier this year indicated an average of 32 people in prison were waitlisted by Forensic Mental Health Services for a secure forensic inpatient bed. I am further advised that a cross-agency team has been established and a work plan is currently being developed with a focus on addressing immediate actions that agencies can take. It is my expectation that Corrections, Ministry of Health, and Health New Zealand officials will continue to work closely together to identify options to address the challenges of access to forensic beds. This is also my response to WPQs 60838 and 60867 (2024).