From 27 to 30 July 2021, a training on piloting the Toolkit for Mental Health Screening and Risk and Needs In-depth Assessment took place in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia. Representatives of the “Prison Medicine Centre” SNCO subunits, and psychologists of the penitentiary institutions where the toolkit will be piloted, took part in the training.

Two separate tools for screening men and women inmates and another one for the in-depth assessment upon need were presented in detail and discussed. Each tool’s application was practiced through interactive role plays which contributed to the participants’ interviewing skills development. The role plays exercises were facilitated by experienced trainers. The participants highly appreciated the toolkit that will enable them to perform an initial screening upon admission in a penitentiary institution of each prisoner, as well as an in-depth assessment in respect of their mental health. In addition, a Road Map for piloting the abovementioned toolkit in selected 3 prisons, before its official adoption by the Ministry of Justice, was presented and discussed. The participants agreed that the screening and mental health assessment based on the Council of Europe standards are important components for treatment of prisoners and all results should be registered in medical card of the prisoner. The participants also agreed next steps and that their suggestions for improvement of the tools will be collected during the piloting process and included in the final version.

The Training was organised and the Toolkit for Mental Health Screening and Risk and Needs In-depth Assessment was developed within the framework of the project “Enhancing health care and human rights protection in prisons in Armenia” implemented by the Council of Europe and financed by the Action Plan for Armenia 2019 -2022.