Prisoners in Finland Suffer High Rates of Mental Illness
HELSINKI, Finland — Two out of three Finnish prisoners suffer from mental illness, according to a study by the country’s Ministry of Justice.
The Criminal Sanctions Agency — an administrative component of the MOJ responsible for developing and managing the implementation of prison sentencing in Finland — reported that more than two-thirds of prison inmates, and those serving suspended or community service sentences, suffer from some form of personality disorder, mood disorder or serious psychological pathology, such as antisocial personality disorder, unipolar affective disorder or psychopathy.
Up to 15 percent of prisoners meet the diagnostic criteria for psychopathy. The prevalence of mental illness among the prison population is 15 times higher than that of Finland ‘s population, according to the study’s initial findings.
The study, which focused on prisoner health and treatment needs, collected information on more than 700 prison inmates and convicts performing community service during 2005. In addition to routine medical conditions, the study examined behaviors and mental health issues, substance abuse and work capacity.
Researchers also found widespread drug abuse with nine out of 10 male inmates displaying an addiction to alcohol or narcotics. Of prisoners serving life sentences, 70 percent are alcohol dependent, while 65 percent of female prisoners are dependent on some form of illegal drug, according to the study.
The changing profile of the prison population in Finland — such as the most common type of criminal offense committed and the prevalence of concomitant antisocial behaviors — during the two decades since the last study of this kind, could be one of several causal factors responsible for the up-turn in mental health illnesses and substance abuse problems among the prison population, officials say.
In 1985, nonviolent crimes, such as theft, were most common, with 1,500 individuals serving sentences for theft-related crimes. By 2006, that figure had fallen to about 600, officials say. During the same period, violent crime has nearly doubled, rising from 700 convictions in 1985 to more than 1,200 in 2006, officials say.
