New Zealand Human Rights Commission Submission to the CAT in relation to NZ’s 6th periodic review 8. Mental Health in places of detention LOIPR: para 31 - In light of the previous recommendations of the Committee (para 9), please indicate whether the mental health screening and the establishment of the mental health status of prisoners upon arrival in prisons is carried out by qualified personnel in addition to the registered primary health nurses. Please provide updated information on the number of waitlisted acutely mentally unwell prisoners who cannot be accommodated in the District Health Board (DHB) forensic inpatient beds and on the measures taken by the State party to remedy the situation and place them in appropriate health-care facilities. Relevant provision of the CAT: Article 16 SPT Recommendation: The SPT recommends that a comprehensive national policy and strategy be developed to ensure appropriate access to health care and mental health care services across the criminal justice system. A significant increase in provision of mental health services is required to cope with the high number of detainees with mental health problems. Key issues:  Sixty to seventy percent of people in prison have either a learning disability or mental illness.  People with mental illness and/or intellectual disabilities are being re-institutionalised in the criminal justice system  Detainees experiencing mental illness should be professionally treated in a therapeutic environment, rather than managed in a custodial setting.  Some district health boards are continuing to use seclusion at much higher rates than the rest of the country.  Māori are significantly more likely than non-Māori to experience seclusion. 64