Abstract
Depression is most common in prisoners as they are isolated from the society as a part of their prison life. overcrowding, dirty and unhygienic living conditions, poor quality of food, inadequate health care, physical or verbal aggression by inmates, lack of purposeful activity, availability of illicit drugs , lack of privacy and time for quiet relaxation and reflection, feelings of guilt or shame about the offenses they have committed, experience stigma of being been imprisoned, worry about the impact of their behavior on other people, including their families and friends, coupled with anxiety about how much of their former lives will remain intact after release are factors that aggravate mental morbidity in prisons. The cumulative effect of these factors, left unchecked, tend to worsen their mental health and increases the likelihood of damage to the wellbeing of prisoners. This study aims to identify depression in prisoners in an early stage. In our study, females were more prone to depression than males. Majority of the depressed individuals was observed to be young adults. 81.1% of the sample prisoners in our study were found to be depressed. Among these 81.1% depressed prisoners, the most observed symptoms were depressed mood, insomnia (42%), feelings of guilt (75.6%) and loss of weight (45%). Around 6.4% of depressed prisoners in our study attempted suicide in the past.It is important to train prison staff in the early recognition and counseling for depression, as well as establish an efficient network with mental health professionals for its effective treatment.
