On 26 November, the Council of Europe together with the Ministry of Health and the National Administration of Penitentiaries of Romania organised an online seminar on “Forensic psychiatry and mental health nurse specialisation: good practices and prospects“.

During the event the participants had a possibility to explore the experience of England in relation to forensic psychiatry and mental health nurse specialisation, the benefits and the lessons learned, and discuss the current needs and future prospects of such system in Romania. A special session was devoted to the needs and prospects of introducing prison psychiatry and mental health nurse specialisation in Romania. The Romanian counterparts showed a huge interest and readiness to further explore these topics.

This event is expected to inspire and pave the way for further steps aimed at improving the provision of psychiatric care in closed institutions such as prison facilities and civilian psychiatric institutions.

The event was organised within the framework of the project “Further strengthening the provision of health care and mental health in prisons and other closed institutions in Romania” financed by the Human Rights Trust Fund of the Council of Europe.