Page last updated at 17:32 GMT, Wednesday, 4 June 2008 18:32 UK

WI in prison mental health call

Prison bars
A mother whose son died in prison has inspired the WI campaign

Women's Institute members have voted overwhelmingly to back a resolution calling for an end to "inappropriate imprisonment" of the mentally-ill.

The move is inspired by the experience of a member whose schizophrenic son killed himself in jail.

Delegates at the National Federation of Women's Institutes annual conference in Liverpool backed the move 6,205 to 173.

The campaign, which calls for "far-reaching reforms" will target MPs, courts, health and prison authorities.

The vote followed three months of debate on the issue at every WI branch in England and Wales.

'Terrible tragedy'

NFWI chairwoman Fay Mansell said: "The members are strongly behind this campaign and we will be deciding how to move forward in the next few weeks."

Prison Reform Trust director Juliet Lyon, who addressed the conference, said the resolution showed something good could emerge from a "terrible tragedy".

She said: "After her schizophrenic son killed himself in prison, one mother's determination to stop other families suffering, as hers has done, has led to a resounding commitment from the WI to stop the cruel practice of locking up mentally ill people in bleak, overcrowded jails.

"It is difficult to think of anywhere more likely to make an ill person worse."

She said the trust now expected to see the development of "diversion schemes" for mentally-ill offenders at police stations and courts and a "proper" mental health services opened up across England and Wales.

She said: "When a highly respected organisation like the WI looks at the dark, neglected world of prisons and highlights the plight of the mentally ill then things will start changing for the better."

The NFWI annual conference is thought to be the UK's largest annual gathering of women.

Eight years ago, then Prime Minister Tony Blair was given a hostile reception when he addressed the conference, with members heckling and slow hand-clapping throughout his speech.

This year's principal speakers are broadcaster and writer Sandi Toksvig, neuroscientist Baroness Susan Greenfield and award-winning scientist Professor Averil MacDonald.




SEE ALSO
Man died 'while being restrained'
27 May 08 |  Wales politics
Campaigner 'never got over loss'
16 May 08 |  England
WI gives Blair hostile reception
07 Jun 00 |  Politics

RELATED BBC LINKS

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites


FEATURES, VIEWS, ANALYSIS
Has China's housing bubble burst?
How the world's oldest clove tree defied an empire
Why Royal Ballet principal Sergei Polunin quit

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Americas Africa Europe Middle East South Asia Asia Pacific