The provision of mental healthcare in public and in penitentiary facilities, and ways to improve the current practices through the monitoring process was discussed among human rights specialists, lawyers, doctors, social workers, and psychologists, as representatives of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM Department and the Special Preventive Group).  Particular attention was also dedicated to possible strategies for monitoring mental healthcare provision and ways to cooperate between involved entities.

The issues of discussion included specific challenges in relation to mental healthcare provision, sharing experiences on monitoring systemic problems of penitentiary and other closed institutions, modern approaches to mental health assessment and treatment. The participants also reviewed the Mental Health Strategy 2022-2030 and Government Action Plan 2022-2024, as well as core strategic objectives and available resources. As a result, participants emphasised that monitoring plays a crucial role in improving mental healthcare provision and protection of human rights of people with mental problems. Participants have expressed their willingness to share information and knowledge with other colleagues, which will further expand the impact of the workshop.

This workshop that took place on 18-19 November 2022 in Tsinandali, Georgia, was organised in the framework of the project “Enhancement of Human Rights and Health-Care Support to the Penitentiary System”. The Project is funded by the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia.