MENTAL ILLNESS, POVERTY AND PRISONS

Even though Australia enjoys a high standard of living, some aspects of poverty and homelessness are getting worse, according to Dr Eileen Baldry, from the University of New South Wales' School of Social Work. At a special International Anti-Poverty Week lunchtime seminar today, Dr Baldry will discuss the growing links between poverty, homelessness and the criminal justice system.

"We know that the severe shortfall in supported, secure places in the community for people with a mental illness results in some being homeless. We are now seeing people with a mental illness being imprisoned for offenses related to their illness, homelessness and poverty. According to Corrective Services 25 per cent of women and 12 per cent of men in NSW prisons have a serious mental illness, and that is an absolute disgrace," Dr Baldry said.

"Our prisons are already filled with those who have serious drug problems," she said. "With many also having mental illnesses, we have to ask the question, are our prisons becoming the new psychiatric institutions of NSW?"

"Those affected by poverty, mental illness and drugs are hardly the heavyweights of the criminal world." The majority of people in prison were poor, had a low level of education, often had a drug or alcohol problem, and many did not have supportive or helpful social or family ties, she said.

Dr Baldry added that over the past decade there had also been a huge rise - 70 per cent - in the number of women in prison, and a 40 per cent rise in the size of the prison population overall.

"But it doesn't have to be this very grim picture. The $65,000 per person per year spent keeping mentally ill and other not-so-serious offenders in prison, should be diverted to more constructive prevention programs providing support and resources to help keep poor and mentally ill people out of the revolving door of prison," Dr Baldry said.

UNSW's Social Justice Network, which is co-ordinated by the Faculty of Law's Social Justice Project, has organised a lunchtime seminar series to mark International Anti-Poverty Week. Topics being covered include Poverty and Human Rights; What is Pro-Poor Growth?, Fighting Global Poverty; and Help or Hindrance: Law and the Poor.

CONTACT DETAILS: Dr Eileen Baldry, UNSW School of Social Work, tel. 9385 1878; Professor Julian Disney, UNSW Social Justice Project, tel. 9385 1275; Amanda Hainsworth, UNSW Public Affairs and Development, tel. 9385 2873.

Date issued: 16 October 2001