16 Percent of US State Prison Inmates Mentally Ill: ReportAbout 16 percent of all inmates in US state prisons are mentally ill, and 79 percent of such prisoners are receiving therapy or counseling, according to a report released by the Justice Department Sunday.Overall, 89 percent of state prisons provide mental health services for all inmates. One in every eight state prisoners is receiving some types of mental health therapy while about 60 percent of those diagnosed as mentally ill are receiving psychotropic medications, including anti-depressants, stimulants, sedatives and tranquilizers, said the report. Nearly 70 percent of the state prisons reported that they screen inmates at intake, 65 percent conduct psychiatric assessments, 51 percent provide 24-hour mental health care, 71 percent provide therapy and/or counseling by trained mental health professionals, 73 percent distribute psychotropic medications, and 66 percent help released prisoners obtain community mental health services. The states with the highest percentage of inmates receiving psychotropic medications were Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nebraska and Oregon, which reported a 20 percent rate for their prisoners. The report reflects data compiled as of June 30, 2000, and was based on the census of prisons. |
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