On 26 and 27 May, the Special Prison Hospital in Belgrade hosted the first part of the workshops dedicated to developing a new, comprehensive model of care for inmates with mental health issues.

This initiative enhances the quality of psychiatric care and human rights in places of detention and demonstrates the ongoing collaboration between the Council of Europe and Serbian institutions to this end. The workshop marks a significant step forward in building local expertise and aligning mental health practices with international standards

The work was grounded in a thorough needs assessment conducted at the outset of the project, ensuring that the new model will align with European best practices and Council of Europe standards.

Led by a renowned international consultant, the workshop gathered psychiatrists from the Special Prison Hospital, focusing on advancing forensic mental health practices. Participants explored how models of care in secure forensic hospitals are structured—comparing current frameworks with contemporary approaches to identify essential structural elements for effective service delivery.

The workshop was centred on the use of key needs assessment tools, complemented by sessions on research protocol development and database management. Participants gained valuable skills in structured professional judgement instruments, supporting the design and evaluation of effective models of care. Feedback and reflective practice were integral to the workshop, with participants encouraged to consider how these assessments could be integrated routinely into their services.

Council of Europe will follow-up the workshop proceedings towards integrating a new modern Model of Care in Serbian prisons.

The workshop was conducted under the joint European Union and Council of Europe Joint Programme “Improving the treatment of prisoners with mental health problems and strengthening alternative sanctions in Serbia”.