A study of the health and post-release mortality of prisoners in NI
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An examination of the health, mental health and post-release mortality risk of prisoners in Northern Ireland
IRAS ID
298818
Contact name
Dermot O'Reilly
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen's University Belfast
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
Background: The exponential rise in drug related deaths (DRD) is a significant UK public health concern, with a 5-fold increase in NI in the last decade, especially in males aged 25-44 years, and with most DRD involving two or more substances. A recent ADR NI report, using linked mortality and 2011 Census records, showed strong socio-economic gradients, though the high proportion of unlinked DRD records was a noted limitation with underrepresentation of homeless or people in communal establishments such as prisons. This is a particular concern, as preventing DRD amongst the prison population is major concern to the criminal justice system and public health organisations.
The project aims are: (i) to examine health and mental health in prison; (ii) to quantify all-cause and DRD mortality risk post-release from prison; (iii) to characterise those most at risk and (iv) to determine if this is moderated by or specific to those with mental health problems. We anticipate that prisoners’ risk of death is highest shortly after release and will be greatest for those with drug dependencies and who have started replacement therapy, or have mental health issues, and will be most pronounced within the first two weeks of release.
Data/methods: This is a joint project between QUB and the NI Healthcare in Prisons SE Trust (Director Dr R Kirk). It will analyse the linked health records of prisoners to health data held in Business Services Organisation (BSO). This will include date and cause of death, mental health indicators in the Honest Broker Service (HBS) including prescribed psychotropic medication from the Enhanced Prescribing Database (EPD) and admissions to psychiatric units. The analysis dataset that the researchers will access will be entirely anonymous; all researchers will have undergone approved safe researcher training and will only analyse the data via the safe setting at BSO.
REC name
London - West London & GTAC Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/PR/0219
Date of REC Opinion
3 Mar 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion