The Department of Corrective Services maintains a community model in managing prisoners with a mental illness using a process of assessment, diagnosis and on-going treatment. Casuarina, Hakea and Bandyup prisons provide a service using a mental health team consisting of mental health nurse specialists and consultant forensic psychiatrists.
The mental health team is supported by the Forensic Case Management Team which consists of psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists providing on-going management of offenders with a mental illness.
Crisis care units at these prisons are staffed seven days a week by a mental health nurse clinicians.
The mental health team offers the following services:
- identifying prisoners with a mental illness, liaising with past care agencies and continuing appropriate treatment before discharging back into community care when the prisoner is released;
- assessing all prisoners who are referred for inappropriate behaviour. If a mental illness is detected, then they are treated as above;
- assessing prisoners for the court and Parole Board to assist in determining an appropriate sentence or parole condition;
- providing mental health promotion and education to prisoners; and.
- liaising with other health professionals, including working closely with the Frankland Unit at
Contact details
Health Services Directorate
Level 10
141 St Georges Terrace
PERTH WA 6000
Telephone: (08) 9264 1384
Facsimile: (08) 9264
