Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Karnataka Signs MoU to Expand Prisoner Mental Healthcare Services
Karnataka’s prison department has partnered with NIMHANS to help prisoners with their mental health.
The partnership is written in an agreement called an MoU.
Prisoners may receive check-ups, counselling, therapy and rehabilitation support.
Experts will work to notice mental health problems early.
Prison staff will learn how to recognise and respond to these problems.
Training will also cover suicide prevention, substance abuse and mental wellbeing.
Prisoners will be able to use Tele-MANAS for counselling by phone or other remote services.
The plan also encourages prisoners to stay in contact with their families because family support can help rehabilitation.
Karnataka’s prisons department and NIMHANS signed an MoU to improve mental healthcare and rehabilitation for prisoners.
The agreement provides for mental health assessments, psychotherapy, counselling and individualised rehabilitation support.
NIMHANS professionals will undertake specialised projects to strengthen research activities in the central prison.
Training and awareness programmes will address suicide prevention, substance abuse, mental wellbeing and staff responses to mental health concerns.
The collaboration will strengthen Tele-MANAS services and promote communication and visits between prisoners and their families.
- Who
- The Karnataka Department of Prisons and Correctional Services and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS).
- What
- They signed an MoU to strengthen mental healthcare, rehabilitation, training and research for prisoners.
- Where
- Across prisons in Karnataka, including the central prison referenced in the agreement.
- Why
- To improve access to mental health support, identify psychological distress early, train prison personnel and support prisoner rehabilitation.
- Agreement
- Memorandum of understanding between Karnataka’s prisons department and NIMHANS
- Mental health services
- Assessments, psychotherapy, counselling and rehabilitation support
- Training topics
- Suicide prevention, substance abuse control and mental wellbeing
- Staff support
- Prison personnel will be trained to identify and respond to mental health concerns
- Research
- NIMHANS professionals will undertake specialised projects to strengthen the central prison’s research wing
- Telehealth
- The initiative is expected to strengthen Tele-MANAS tele-counselling services in prisons
- Family contact
- The agreement will focus on communication and visits between prisoners and family members