WHO Regional Office for Europe的动态

A WINDOW INTO THE DEADLY COST OF GOING SOFT ON COVID: Many people have argued since 2020 about the damaging economic costs of Covid-related isolation policies that kept people out of schools, away from workplaces, out of restaurants, off airplanes, out of movie theatres and more. Here is an interesting case study that shines a light on what happened to a population that remained in crowded places because it had to … incarcerated people in prisons. Mortality in U.S. prisons increased by 77% in 2020 relative to 2019, corresponding to 3.4 times the mortality increase in the general population. Mortality in prisons increased across all age groups (49 and under, 50 to 64, and 65 and older). Yes, shutdown policies bore serious economic consequences. But there was also a cost to inaction. This study suggests it was at least partly born in death. Unfortunately, we did not emerge from Covid with public consensus about isolation policies. When the next pandemic strikes, resistance to sensible isolation policies could prove even more deadly than last time.

Reentry into the community can be an extraordinarily difficult process for the over 1 million adults incarcerated in U.S. prisons. These individuals face substantial barriers and strained social and familial relationships when returning to life outside of jail or prison that contribute to an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Notably, people with substance use disorders are particularly vulnerable following release, with several studies showing drug overdose to be the leading cause of death after release from prison. Yale researchers Katherine Hill, MPH, and Benjamin Howell, MD, MPH, MHS, collaborated with Peter Bodurtha, MPP, and Tyler Winkelman, MD, MSc, with the Health, Homelessness, and Criminal Justice Lab at Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute to investigate the mortality risk among individuals recently released from Minnesota jails and prisons. The study identified people released from prison or jail, reviewed their causes of death, and compared results to the wider Minnesota population. Substance use was the main driver of high death rates for people who were recently incarcerated. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eutMx7v4. Hennepin Healthcare Yale School of Medicine

While this article is two years old, the problem it addresses cannot be talked about enough. We have reduced mental health treatment opportunities, especially inpatient treatment for the most acute mental illness, by significant numbers. Due to this, fewer of our neighbors and loved ones are able to access mental health care for what ails them. This often leads to higher rates of interaction with law enforcement and incarceration. Hospitals and behavioral health treatment centers are the places to help people experiencing mental illness, not jails and prisons. In fact, jails and prisons often make the problem worse. Efforts continue to be made to reduce incarceration and punishment for those experiencing mental health issues but instituting programs and facilities that can help did not occur before these efforts so instead of jails or prisons, people end up on the street. We can and must do better. We need to reexamine why we abandoned robust hospital facilities for those with mental illness and what it looks like to rebuild those systems in ways hat meet modern best practices.

It was an honor to participate in the Eighth Annual Alaska Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Conference, which was held virtually from September 10-12, 2024. This year’s theme, “Weaving Support: Elevating MAT through Community Collaboration,” highlighted the important role of community partnerships to increase access and enhance the effectiveness of MAT. Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a chronic treatable illness and disability that is best treated in the community. Nevertheless, there is a high prevalence of OUD among people in prisons, jails, and detention centers, and thus correctional facilities have important roles to play in ensuring appropriate treatment for people with this chronic illness (Bronson et al., 2017). Scientific evidence has firmly established that medications to treat opioid use disorder (MOUD) save lives (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine [National Academies], 2019). By providing access to MOUD and behavioral treatment based on national standards, prisons, jails, and detention facilities can reduce deaths, improve long-term health outcomes, interrupt the cycle of recidivism (National Academies, 2019), and minimize litigation. Continuity of care is essential, and every individual being released must have at minimum medication management and counseling services available to improve outcomes.

https://lnkd.in/gdx3nDN4 "Unfortunately, MAT is the least common treatment in prisons: only 1% of people with substance use disorders in state and federal prisons reported receiving MAT at any point since their admission. In North Carolina, for example, over 9,000 people admitted to state prisons in Fiscal Year 2021-22 (78% of everyone screened during intake) met the criteria for needing intermediate or long-term substance use treatment, but the clinical director of the Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency Programs reports that they are only able to treat 3,000 cases each year. The state launched a MAT pilot program in 2021, and as of January 2024, only 213 enrollees have received medications prior to release from prison. Even when correctional facilities do offer necessary treatments, their one-size-fits-all approaches can be limiting, overlooking the specific needs of different populations. For example, women in prison are often expected to participate in treatment programs originally designed for men. Advocates report that because “there are fewer incarcerated women than men… there are fewer programs available for women serving time. If support is available, it is not always effective.”

Ubumi works with inmate volunteers to advance heath in Zambian prisons. Read more about the Ubumi Model below and click on to our insta to see what one of our volunteers say about volunteering with Ubumi. Support our work by signing up as a member: MOBILEPAY 150 DKK ON 42028? Student / pensioners price: 75 DKK Text: your email. Or sign up via link in bio. Together, we can make a change inside Zambia’s prisons! THE UBUMI MODEL: The Ubumi model is a rights-based model that aims to work holistically and strategically with relevant stakeholders in prisons to promote long-term changes and improvements in relation to health and nutrition. The model's thinking of working concretely in prisons in combination with capacity building and advocacy underlies all our work. The Ubumi Model was developed by inmates in Kabwe Maximum Correctional Facilities with the support of Ubumi's founder Anne Egelund in 2013. The model works at the intersection between acute aid and long-term development goals by resting on the foundations of inmate empowerment, volunteerism, self-help, but also capacity building and mobilising the commitment and involvement of correctional staff, health staff and the inmates. In addition to the model being integrated into the existing health system in the prisons, the model also strengthens the health system by building the capacity of health workers, prison officers and inmates. https://lnkd.in/g5fjhEfA

This week, along with five other human rights organizations, we petitioned the High Court, urging the Israel Prison Service and Ministry of Health to follow standard medical procedures to control the scabies outbreak in prisons. Reports indicate that hundreds of incarcerated individuals have been infected in recent months. - Since October 2023, the IPS has imposed severe restrictions on its Palestinian population. Incarcerated Palestinians are limited to one item of clothing, prohibited from purchasing hygiene products, have restricted access to showers, and are deprived of laundry facilities. Additionally, suspending family visits has eliminated the option of receiving clean clothes and linens from visitors. - Access to prison medical clinics is blocked, and requests for medical care are often ignored. Additionally, physicians are not conducting rounds to examine incarcerated individuals and are neglecting the regular monitoring that was previously part of established procedures. The surge in the Israeli prisons’ security wings' population—from 16,353 on October 6, 2023, to over 21,000 by June 2024—has contributed to the spread of the infestation. - Moreover, deteriorating incarceration conditions and disruptions in hygiene practices have obstructed efforts to manage the outbreak, resulting in profound suffering for hundreds of incarcerated individuals and a severe infringement of their health rights. - The IPS must take immediate action to treat all infected individuals and those in close contact with them. This includes providing clean clothing and bedding, disinfecting cells and personal belongings, separating infected individuals from the general population, ensuring access to frequent showers, making hygiene products available, and allowing regular washing and disinfection of clothing.

?? 4 Things I Wish More People Knew About Prisons and Offending ?? Prisons and those who are incarcerated are never ending source of curiosity, yet they remain some of the least understood in our society. I’ve been privileged to spend my career working with men with offending histories in prison and in the community and here are 4 things I wish more people knew: 1?? Trauma is a key factor in offending Over 90%?of the prison population in New Zealand has a lifetime diagnosis of a mental health or substance abuse disorder. I’m yet to work with someone that didn’t have at least a few Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). The more ACEs you have the more likely you are to have mental disorders and end up offending. For a lot of these men, early intervention and support could have changed their lives and kept them out. 2?? Punishment Doesn’t Work “Tough on crime” policies might feel satisfying in the short term, but they don’t address the root causes of offending. If we truly want to reduce reoffending, we need to invest in: ?? Training custody staff in trauma-informed care ?? Expanding access to therapy and counselling in prisons ?? Increased investment in reintegration support ?? Introducing clean slate policies for low-risk individuals These are insights policymakers like Christopher Luxon, David Seymour and Paul Goldsmith might find useful. 3?? They are Fathers, Partners, Sons and Brothers A lot of the men are trying to get out and to be with people they care about. I’ve seen so many men dedicate themselves to changing their lives so that they can break the intergenerational cycles of trauma, and rebuild relationships with their whānau. To honour someone’s humanity is to see them as more than their failings- it is about seeing them as whānau members who have hopes and aspirations. 4?? It could have been you in there… If you haven’t been to prison, one of the key factors that have kept you out is luck. Were you born into a family with stability? Did you have education and support when you needed it? Or maybe you have made mistakes- getting into fights, or getting behind the wheel after too many drinks and nothing went wrong. Many of the guys I worked with weren’t so lucky. We like to think its us and them- but what separates the ‘us’ from ‘them’ is a very thin line. Fritzi Horstman from Compassion Prison Project speaks phenomenally to this point, I highly recommend checking out her work At the end of the day its important to remember prisons are filled with human beings and members of our community. What do you think the system would look like if there was more emphasis on healing over punishment? How could it be done? Let’s discuss and share ideas.

"[Jails and prisons] were never intended to be – and can never function as – healthcare providers. Efforts to reverse engineer them as such have proven ineffective, harmful, and financially wasteful... This briefing builds on our past work about the?unmet health needs of incarcerated people?and the?endless cycle of arrest for people who use drugs?by compiling data on treatment availability versus drug-related punishment in jails and prisons across the country," writes Prison Policy Initiative's Emily Widra in her recent article, "Addicted to punishment: Jails and prisons punish drug use far more than they treat it." You can find the full article and learn more about PPI's findings here: https://lnkd.in/d97jFHYj Peter Wagner Aleks Kajstura Wanda Bertram?

The current system often ends up institutionalizing individuals within prisons, which can be counterproductive. Community-based teams could offer tailored support and resources, addressing the root causes of criminal behavior, such as mental health issues, substance abuse, and socio-economic challenges. These interventions can help prevent vulnerable individuals from entering the criminal justice system, promoting rehabilitation and integration into society. For these specialized community-based teams to be effective, they would need tailored training to handle various challenges, including behavioral health crises, substance use, and social support. Ongoing support for staff is crucial to prevent burnout and ensure their well-being, which in turn enhances the quality of care and support they provide to individuals within our communities. There's significant work needed at the state level to create a more humane and effective system. Priorities should include: Establishing regular communication channels between the criminal justice system and behavioral health agencies ensures that individuals receive the appropriate care. Allocating resources to initiatives that divert individuals from jail to appropriate community-based services can reduce recidivism and provide better outcomes. Co-Responder Model of pairing first responders with behavioral health professionals to address mental health crises more effectively on the scene. Establishing courts focused on mental health and substance abuse can ensure that individuals receive the treatment they need rather than punitive measures. Creating affordable housing options is critical to providing stability for individuals. Expanding Medicaid in states without it would increase access to healthcare for low-income individuals, including mental health and substance abuse treatment, reducing the burden on the criminal justice system. Investing in these areas can create a compassionate and effective system supports the well-being of individuals and communities. Implementing these strategies fosters a more integrated approach and a more efficient use of resources.