Suicide rate in Belgian prisons among the highest in Europe

The suicide rate in Belgian prisons is 25 per cent higher than the European median, placing Belgium among the worst-performing countries in Europe. This was reported by the Central Prison Monitoring Council (CTRG) and the Federal Institute for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights (FIRM), based on data from the Council of Europe. Both organisations are calling for urgent measures to address the structural shortage of psychiatric care for prisoners.

The CTRG and FIRM highlight several “persistent bottlenecks”, which they expect to be addressed in an action plan that the Belgian government is due to present by the end of the year. Chief among these is the chronic lack of psychiatric support within the prison system. Although progress has been made in increasing the number of psychologists, the number of psychiatrists remains inadequate.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Belgium has just 0.2 psychiatrists per 1,000 detainees, compared to the European average of 1.3 (2020). In addition, prison staff reportedly still receive “insufficient practical training” in suicide prevention and human rights.

The organisations also raise concerns over the continued use of practices that violate human dignity. “Measures such as naked isolation, excessive use of handcuffs, and disproportionate restraints are still being used in the absence of suitable alternatives,” they report.

Detainees experiencing mental health crises are still being placed in unfurnished isolation cells, without clothing or adequate medical care. Finally, the report flags a lack of effective internal legal remedies to protect victims of abuse within the prison system.

^{© BELGA PHOTO ERIC VIDAL}

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