'More psychologists in Scottish prisons could prevent overcrowding'

Their call comes after The Herald's series 'Scotland's Prisons: Crisis Behind Bars' revealed that eleven of Scotland's 17 prisons were at maximum levels of capacity just days after hundreds of prisoners were released early by the Scottish Government to tackle overcrowding.
The latest figures show there are 8,129 in the current prison population in Scotland, despite the official capacity being 7,773.
The current capacity level is also well in excess of the 2008 McLeish Commission of the recommendations that Scotland's prison population should be around 5,000.
The BPS argues that increasing access to psychological support is essential to reducing reoffending, freeing up prison spaces and easing pressure on the system.
Explaining why psychologists are key to driving down prisoner numbers, Dr Adam Mahoney, the Scotland Chair of the BPS's Division of Forensic Psychology said that 'consistent support' significantly reduces the likelihood of reoffending.
Dr Adam Mahoney, British Psychological Society (Image: supplied)
Dr Mahoney told The Herald: 'One of the most effective tools the Scottish government can deploy to reduce the growing prison population is investment in psychological services across the criminal justice system.
'More psychologists would mean more support at every stage including pre-sentencing, whilst serving their sentence, and post-release.
'Greater investment in community-based alternatives to custody would also be greatly beneficial. Psychologists are crucial in providing early interventions, risk assessments, and staff training to support rehabilitation.
'There is an urgent need to develop person-centred, trauma-informed psychological care for those in custody. Providing consistent psychological support significantly reduces the likelihood of reoffending.'
Read more:
'We are seeing more people with mental health problems in prisons'
Scotland accused of breaching human rights law over prison social care
The BPS is calling for a 'scaled up' approach when it comes to improving mental health support in prisons.
Services they want to see further investment in include mental health screenings on arrival and throughout a sentence which help identify and address psychological needs early.
They also want to see more funding allocated to Talking therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and other trauma focused therapies, which helps individuals understand and change potentially harmful thought patterns and behaviours.
BPS has said it is vital for the Scottish Government to ensure more support for reintegration into communities outside of prison including access to mental health services, healthcare, housing, employment and reconnecting with family and society.
Other key services they have marked out for further support include gender specific and trauma-informed services which ensure all custodial services are tailored to meet the needs of individuals who have experienced trauma, with a focus on safety, empowerment, and long-term recovery.
Last year, the Scottish Prison Service launched a mental health strategy for 20245-2034 which aims to create environments where people feel able to seek help and support.
The Scottish Prison Service and the Scottish Government have been approached for comment.
The Herald's series on prisons this year spoke to a social care expert who told the paper the Scottish Government could be in breach of international law through its handling of inmate social care as the prison service struggles to look after an ageing population.
The older prisoner population is increasing every year - with the number of people aged over 50 in Scottish prisons nearly doubling and the number of over 70s trebling in the last ten years.
The UN human rights-based Mandela Rules state that the prison population should have the same right to health and social care as the rest of society.
However, Alison Bavidge, National Director for Scottish Association of Social Work (SASW) believes that, as it stands, inmates in Scotland are not able to access the same care as citizens in wider society.
The Care Inspectorate's Prison-based social work: thematic review from last year found there was a 'strong consensus that fundamental reform of the current arrangements is required' and 'the current funding and commissioning arrangements for prison-based social work services are no longer fit for purpose'.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Scottish Sun

2 hours ago

• Scottish Sun

Eye-watering cost of ADHD handouts in Scotland revealed – and experts warn it'll only get bigger

The next year there was a 28-times increase to almost £14million 'BALLOONING' BENEFITS Eye-watering cost of ADHD handouts in Scotland revealed – and experts warn it'll only get bigger Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ADHD handouts are set to hit £100million just three years after the payments were introduced. Social Security Scotland handed out £500,000 in 2022, after taking over the benefits. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 The cost of ADHD handouts have skyrocketed to £100million in three years Credit: Getty 2 Liz Smith said Scotland's benefits bill is "ballooning out of control" Credit: Alamy The next year there was a 28-times increase to almost £14million. This ballooned again in 2024 to £35million, while this year the figure is predicted to top £50million. And experts warn the bill for sufferers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder will only get bigger. Scottish Tory social security spokeswoman Liz Smith said: 'Scotland's benefits bill is ballooning out of control. 'While it is essential that adult disability payments support the most vulnerable, it's also essential there is a strong focus on getting as many people as possible back into work.' Scottish Lib Dems leader Alex Cole-Hamilton added: 'The system is broken. We should be spending far more to prevent and treat mental health conditions.' In the past three years, 13,896 adults have applied for ADHD payouts, with 8,204 approved. Those on a standard rate get almost £4,000 a year, while the average claimant has received £8,000 since the system went live. Around two to four per cent of adults have the condition and new Government stats show a surge in benefit applications. Claimants do not need a formal ADHD diagnosis for approval but must have supporting information from medical specialists. New sinister threat issued in ongoing Scotland gang war It emerged this week that firms are offering a 'no-win, no fee' service to help with ADHD claims. John O'Connell, from the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'The surge in claims for certain conditions calls into question the whole benefits system itself, which is designed to help people in need. "Politicians must ensure only those genuinely deserving receive support.' But Bill Colley, chair of the ADHD Coalition Scotland, said: 'Awards are made not on the basis of a simple diagnosis but on the severity of symptoms and thus impairment, particularly where ADHD leads to complex mental health difficulties.' Since disability payments launched, SSC paid out £2.9 billion, with £1.2 billion going to new applicants and £1.6 billion to those transferred from the DWP. The Scottish Fiscal Commission recently warned of a cash crisis, predicting ministers will be spending £2.2billion more on benefits than they receive from the UK Government by 2030/31. This would see the total welfare bill balloon to £9.4billion, about 15 per cent of the total Scots budget. A SSS spokesperson said: 'Social security is a human right. We are committed to ensuring eligible people get the support they deserve. 'While a diagnosis is not required to apply, we do need supporting information from a professional such as a doctor or psychologist who knows how the person's condition impacts their daily life.'

The Sun

3 hours ago

• The Sun

I thought I'd welcome assisted dying after mum's drawn-out death but vote terrifies me… MPs must stop ignoring experts

EVERYBODY deserves the right to have a dignified death, and many will welcome the passing of the assisted dying bill. After watching my own mother suffer a drawn-out, hideous death I have often thought I would have welcomed a law like this too. 10 10 But Friday's vote terrifies me. I now fear for those of us who want an assisted death, as well as those of us who do want to stay alive. A decision of this magnitude should never have been a private members' bill, it should have been presided over by Government ministers. Corners have been cut, fundamental decisions left up in the air, and advice ignored in a desperate bid to rush it through. That seems senseless when this bill really is a matter of life and death. The first frightening milestone was when the plans to have a High Court judge approve each case were changed because the court doesn't have the capacity to preside over it. But the NHS doesn't have the staff to spare either. Now, to have an assisted death it will need two doctors, a social worker, a senior legal figure and a psychiatrist. Anybody who has been stuck in the NHS system needing to see any of those knows that there are not enough to go round as it is. And if anybody voting on Friday had stopped to listen, they would have heard many doctors saying they want no part in assisting suicide. Which means that dying people spend their final — precious — days battling to get an assisted death. Our own Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he was opposed to it because it would mean the NHS now has less money for other priorities. But he was ignored. Former Home Secretary Sir James Cleverly warned a 'blank cheque' would be needed to get the service up and running. But he was ignored. Doctors said it will be a 'real threat' to patients and medics because the NHS, already under-resourced and overspent, can't cope with this extra burden. Again, they were ignored. And nobody, cruelly, bothered to listen to the charities involved in hospices and disability who voiced their concerns. I just hope the House of Lords does the decent thing now and stops to listen — and stop this bill going ahead. Because our crumbling NHS hasn't got the time, or money, to deal with it. Added pressure Figures released on Friday show that the establishment of a voluntary Assisted Dying Commissioner and panels will cost about £13million a year. I imagine that really is the tip of the iceberg. This huge sum will have to come from somewhere — and one of the biggest areas will be palliative care. The bill's backers say healthcare costs at the end of life could be reduced by almost £60million after ten years. Which is great news, unless you actually don't want to die. Now our underfunded palliative care will get less cash, there will be fewer places for vulnerable and weak people to access, more pressure on them, well . . . to die. They may feel they have no other option but to say yes to the doctor — who is now actually legally allowed to ask them if they want an assisted death. We will watch helplessly as people who have fought to live all their lives give up because they have little other option. Just how scandalous is that? Our NHS can't cope right now. They are paying BILLIONS a year in compensation claims for clinical negligence. This added pressure will see those cases rise. Meanwhile, NHS waiting lists will get longer and we will see more people dying who could have been saved. While those who actually wanted help with their death will die long before they get to the front of the queue. I THOUGHT we'd seen it all when Sharon Stone uncrossed her legs in Basic Instinct. But in a racy new shoot for Vogue, the 67-year-old actress strips off to be worshipped by a sultry pile of hunky male models. 10 10 Nice work if you can get it. And yet she claims to struggle with everyday concerns because: 'When it comes to life, we're all the same.' I get the sentiment Shaz. But when you're a millionaire film star I imagine there's an awful lot less to worry about. HUE 'N' CRY IS CRAZY AFTER touring a lab in Norwich with Prince William to learn about fabric dye, actress Cate Blanchett says she will reconsider the colour of clothes she wears in the future. Apparently, colours such as black, green, blue and even white are difficult to make without causing damage to the environment. 10 You've got to feel sorry for the celebs who may now be judged on their colour choices as well as fashion ones. Take Geri Horner, who has vowed to wear only white and hails it as 'a symbol of purity, cleanliness, immaculacy and perfection'. Nope, now it also means you don't care about the environment. AS a farmer's daughter I have always had a touch of vegaphobia, finding vegans a bit smug and self righteous. So I couldn't help smirking when the founder of the toxic gossip website Tattle Life was unmasked and turned out to be Sebastian Bond, a very annoying, vegan blogger. Perfect. THERE are two words that are guaranteed to send a shiver down the spine of 'booze o'clock' mums and they are 'wine shortage'. But start stockpiling, ladies, as it's about to happen. 10 Workers at the country's biggest bottling plant are going on strike. Gallons of New World wines are shipped to the UK in containers and bottled here to save transporting millions of heavy glass bottles. I predict Prime-style stampedes for the last bottle of Sauvignon Blanc in Tesco. CAN'T KID ME KATE APPARENTLY if parents tell their kids they are naughty, the chances are that they are going to be naughty. Sounds madness but child therapist and former BBC newsreader Kate Silverton explains that children internalise what we tell them and start to believe 'that's who I am'. So instead, parents should say: 'I didn't like that behaviour.' Which, when you think about it, does actually make sense. And I was fully on board with Kate's advice until she added that children 'are not making conscious choices for the majority of the time'. Hmm, she clearly didn't see the grin on my six-year-old's face this morning – trust me, he was definitely choosing to be naughty and most certainly knew what he was doing wrong. ANGE'S BUZZIN' SHE'S blunt, bolshie and terrifies the Tories. And this week Angela Rayner did battle in the Commons with one of her four tattoos on display. 10 As she took to the dispatch box, the Deputy Prime Minister did not seem to care who saw Celtic love knot on her wrist. It may have raised a few eyebrows in the debating chamber, but she also has a red rose on her leg and a geometric design on the back of her neck. Then there is the bee on her right shoulder, a symbol of Manchester's resilience and community spirit in the wake of the 2017 terrorist attack. Even her harshest critics can't argue with that.

The Independent

15 hours ago

• The Independent

NHS plan for all babies to undergo genome sequencing after birth

Labour plans to invest £650 million into DNA technology to proactively treat serious illnesses. Health secretary Wes Streeting stated this initiative aims to "leapfrog" diseases by predicting and preventing them. Reports suggest that within a decade, all babies could undergo whole genome sequencing as part of this drive. The investment supports the government's 10-year NHS plan, which prioritizes technology, prevention, community care, and digital services. This strategy seeks to provide personalized healthcare, reduce pressure on NHS services, and follows a recent £29 billion annual increase in NHS funding.