The Guyana Prison Service (GPS) conducted mental health training for 13 of their officers on Sunday. Senior Psychologist Dr. Balogun Osunbiyi gave a 5-day training on mental health to these officers.
Nickson Elliot, the Director of Prisons at the graduation ceremony said the GPS wants to improve the standard of staff while bettering the prisoners and believes that this will greatly help to do that.
The program included imparting training on the prevention of self-harm, and suicide and helping those with special needs and vulnerable sections like kids, women, and the elderly.
The staff was provided with both technical and institutional training to give more support and help to the prisoners. Dr. Osunbiyi praised his student for their quick grasping skills and he also said that they were equipped to deal with mental health problems in prisons.
GPS also announced that approx 275 officers have now been selected for the next round of training.