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Even though prisoners with mental illnesses sometimes are secluded for the safety of themselves and others, the practice often is also used, inappropriately, for punishment. Prolonged isolation usually intensifies already chronic symptoms.
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The result is the "worsening of psychiatric symptoms such as paranoia, extreme anxiety and depression, increased suicides and suicide attempts, sleep disturbances, hallucinations, and self-mutilation," Honberg said.
New York and California, among other states, have already recognized the dangers and have enacted legislation to limit the use of solitary confinement. NAMI called for action at the federal level to:
- Tie federal funding to states to restrictions on solitary confinement
- Amend the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) to allow federal courts the power to end abuses occurring in solitary confinement units
- Fund the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act to support alternatives to incarceration for people with mental health issues
About NAMI
NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raising awareness and building a community of hope.
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SOURCE National Alliance on Mental Illness
