The health of people in Australia's prisons 2022

Prison entrants reporting a mental health or behavioural condition

During the data collection period, prison entrants were asked if they:

• had ever been told they had a mental health or behavioural condition (including drug and alcohol abuse) by a doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist or nurse
• were currently taking medication for a mental health condition, including those relating to alcohol and other drug use.

Female prison entrants (63%) were more likely than male prison entrants (49%) to report a mental health condition at some stage in their lives (Figure 5.1).

Non-Indigenous prison entrants (60%) were more likely to report a mental health condition than First Nations prison entrants (42%) (Figure 5.1).

Figure 5.1: Prison entrants who had ever been told they had a mental health condition, by sex and Indigenous identity, 2022

Notes

1. Proportions are representative of this data collection only, and not the entire prison population.
2. Excludes Victoria, which did not provide data for this item.

Source: Entrants form, 2022 NPHDC.

Prison entrants aged 25–34 were most likely to report a mental health condition (54%) at some stage of their lives, and those aged 18–24 were least likely (34%).  

For information on medications dispensed in prison for mental health conditions see Medications.