Nice guidelines to bolster mental health support for young offenders

The guidance will set out the effectiveness of different mental health interventions for offenders, including those in the youth justice system, with a focus on prevention, early intervention and the cost-effectiveness of support.

Complementary guidance will focus on supporting prisoners with physical health problems and ensuring professionals across health, social care and criminal justice work together to support offenders with mental health problems.

Guidance will also be issued on the early identification and management of young people who display sexually harmful behaviour.

All the guidance will be aimed at professionals working across social care, youth justice, health and education. The documents could take between six months and two years for Nice to develop.

Lucie Russell, director of campaigns, policy and participation at YoungMinds, said: “With around 90 per cent of young people in prison having one or more mental health problems, Nice’s decision to produce guidance on the prevention and early treatment of offenders with mental health problems taking account of the whole offender pathway is welcome."

She went on: "As with all guidance the test will be how many services implement the recommendations to ensure this guidance has impact.”