Concerns over prisoners with mental health issues self-harming amid long waits for hospital beds

WARNING: This report contains references to self-harm

A Sky News investigation has uncovered how some prisoners with mental health issues are waiting for a year or longer to be transferred to a psychiatric hospital.

NHS guidelines say some at-risk prisoners should be transferred to psychiatric hospitals within 28 days.

Bryony (not her real name) started to develop mental health problems while she was at university following her mother's death.

It culminated in a psychosis where she believed there was a tapeworm in her brain which was killing her. Bryony thought a local takeaway worker had poisoned her food with tapeworm eggs.

She threatened to kill the man if he didn't admit to drugging her and put a match through the door of the takeaway.

Bryony spent six months in prison before appearing in court where she was given a hospital order and transferred to a mental health facility. 

For mental health support, contact the Samaritans on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit http://samaritans.org to find your nearest branch

Full report: https://news.sky.com/story/woman-who-thought-she-was-poisoned-with-tapeworm-eggs-describes-rife-self-harm-in-prison-13060592

If you are in need of mental health support, contact the Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/


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