On a mission to strengthen mental health support within the prison system, 30 correctional personnel from Madhya Pradesh have completed a week-long training programme at the Regional Jail Management & Research Institute in Bhopal. This initiative, titled PRAHARI, was organised by the Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh Jail Headquarters. The programme, which took place from a recent date, aimed to equip prison staff with the skills to identify and manage psychological distress among inmates.
Under the leadership of RRU Vice-Chancellor Prof (Dr) Bimal Patel, the programme focused on enhancing the capacity of prison personnel to support the rehabilitation, reintegration, and reformation of persons in custody. Participants received training in identifying psychological distress and risk indicators, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal behaviour. The programme also covered risk triage, trauma-informed crisis communication, and de-escalation techniques.
Dr Varun Kapoor, Director General of Prisons, stressed the need to promote mental health for both correctional staff and persons in custody. He urged participants to apply the knowledge gained during the training in their daily work, stating that the programme’s success would be measured by its practical application to improve well-being. Dr Kapoor commended Rashtriya Raksha University’s Project PRAHARI for promoting mental health awareness and equipping prison staff to identify distress and provide initial responses.
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📰 Source: Mangalorean News