Schizophrenic Patient Commits Suicide in Turin Prison, Adding to Alarming Trend
In a tragic report coming out of Turin prison, a schizophrenic patient took their own life, becoming the 28th suicide in Italian prisons in the first three months of 2024. The patient had been ordered by a judge to be ‘admitted’ to a REMS, a facility managed by healthcare workers specifically for mentally ill and socially dangerous individuals. However, with only 650 beds available and always at full capacity, there was no room for the patient in need.
The issue of overcrowding and lack of proper mental health care facilities in Italian prisons has been an ongoing problem, leading to devastating consequences such as suicides and even cases of inmates harming each other. Despite calls for reform and changes to the law surrounding the treatment of mentally ill prisoners, progress has been slow.
A recent ruling by the Constitutional Court highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive reform of the system, including the creation of more REMS facilities and alternative interventions for those in need of care. However, more than two years after the ruling, little has been done to address these issues, leaving vulnerable individuals at risk.
Psychoanalyst psychiatrist and mental health expert, Mario Iannucci, criticized the sluggish response from lawmakers and mental health professionals in addressing these critical issues. He emphasized the importance of recognizing the impracticability and unconstitutionality of current laws in order to prevent further tragic events like the suicide in Turin.
As the debate continues over the treatment of mentally ill individuals in the prison system, advocates are calling for immediate action to prevent further loss of life and ensure proper care for those in need. The time for change is now, before more lives are needlessly lost.