The Zambia Correctional Service (ZCS) has raised concern over the growing mental health crisis in the country’s correctional facilities, citing a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders among inmates and limited access to adequate mental healthcare services.
Speaking during the launch of the National Campaign for Healthy Minds and Safe Communities in Zambia, ZCS Commissioner General Frederick Chilukutu, represented by his Deputy Bwalya Kuyomba, said mental health remains one of the most pressing challenges within the prison system.
He noted with regret that suicide continues to be one of the leading causes of death in prisons globally, Zambia included.
Stakeholders at the launch in Lusaka were informed that mental health cases among inmates have increased to 531 this year, up from 388 cases recorded last year, signalling a worrying upward trend.
Mr. Chilukutu said studies show that inmates experience significantly higher rates of depression, psychosis, anxiety, and substance-use disorders compared to the general population.
He attributed the rise in mental health problems to factors such as untreated mental illness, past trauma, emotional instability, substance addiction, and social breakdown.
The campaign, which has also issued a strong call against substance abuse among correctional officers, warns that alcohol dependency, stress-related drinking, and drug misuse undermine productivity at home and professionalism in the workplace.
Launched under the theme “Healthy Minds, Better Correctional Services: Healing Begins With the Mind,” the initiative is the first of its kind to focus specifically on mental health within the correctional system. It aims to promote wellness, reduce stigma, and strengthen support systems for both inmates and officers.
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