The council of Europe will assist the Georgian authorities to improve treatment of the inmates suffering with the mental disorders. The Project started In January 2018 and will last for 18 months, until the end of June 2019. Development of mental health services in prison, guided by a systematic approach and revised legislative framework together with the capacity raising of the related personal is the way to achieve the settled goals.

Wide range of activities is envisaged to achieve the objective of the project and to strengthen the human rights observation and the rule of law in treatment of prisoners with mental health problems in Georgia. Other goals of the project are to improve the identification and management of prisoners with mental health problems and support inmates in crisis and to support the programmes for the offenders and increase the knowledge of the more specialized staff to enable them to provide psychological support to the inmates.

The project will be implemented with the close partnership with the Ministry of Corrections, The Ministry of Internal Affairs, the office of public defender and the civil society actors. 

programme news
Training on Opioid Agonist Treatment in Penitentiary Institutions

Training on Opioid Agonist Treatment in Penitentiary Institutions

First Training Programme for Psychiatric Nurses in Georgia

First Training Programme for Psychiatric Nurses in Georgia

Supporting preparation of a mental health care Strategy in Georgian Penitentiary Establishments

Supporting preparation of a mental health care Strategy in Georgian Penitentiary Establishments

Main Activities

Support in finalising the Penitentiary Mental Health Strategy. Support to the implementation of the Action Plan on crisis intervention/management in prisons, setup of crisis intervention units, promoting multidisciplinary approach.  Staff skills, professionalism:

  • Institutionalize the professional development course for psychiatric nurses and reach more nurses;
  • Enhance regime officers’ skills on managing prisoners with mental health problems, including recognising and dealing with prisoners with personality disorder; more specialized skills for prison health workers on identifying and managing mental disorders;
  • Enhancing staff skills for administering available psycho-social programme for inmates with substance addiction

Support introduction and proper use of mental health screening tools. Further harmonizing of mental health related legislation. Support to implementation of the Action Plan for introduction of quality control in health care (including mental health) services. Improving mental health care related data collection and data processing.

Methodology

To implement the project, the Council of Europe will use a wide variety of activities, including but not limiting to: assessment of legal framework; expert reviews; technical papers; drafting of policies and action plans; training, peer exchange and other learning opportunities for all categories of prison staff, including senior managers, as well as on-site counselling and coaching to advise and follow-up on the implementation of recommended actions.

Contacts

The project is implemented by the Council of Europe’s Criminal Law Cooperation Unit which is part of the Action against Crime Department, Information Society and Action against Crime Directorate, under the Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law together with the Council of Europe Office in Georgia.

Senior Project Officer
Eteri KAMARAULI

 Project Officer
Nino LAPACHI