According to a landmark study by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry (RANZCP), nearly two in three prisoners in the Northern Territory live with a mental illness, exposing a severe lack of specialized forensic support in a jurisdiction with Australia’s highest incarceration rate. The research analyzed 310 medical records across the Alice Springs Correctional Centre and Darwin Correctional Centre, revealing systemic healthcare gaps that disproportionately affect Indigenous inmates.
Mental Illness Prevalence in Northern Territory Prisons
The RANZCP report, titled ‘Prevalence of mental illness in Northern Territory prisoners,’ examined data collected over three months in 2024. Researchers found that almost two in three prisoners have a lifetime diagnosis of a mental illness, significantly higher than the general population rate of 43 percent. Indigenous people accounted for 90.6 percent of the study’s cohort, despite making up only 26 percent of the broader Northern Territory population, according to study author Sarah Dorrington.
Dr. Dorrington, co-chair of the Northern Territory branch of RANZCP, stated that the findings confirmed what was common knowledge. Schizophrenia emerged as the most predominant illness, alongside high rates of substance use disorders. Despite these figures, Northern Territory prisons lack a secure forensic mental health facility or specialized services to treat substance dependency.
Did you know? The Northern Territory maintains the highest incarceration rate in Australia, with First Nations people making up the vast majority of the prison population. Many inmates also face language barriers, as English is often not their first, second, or third language.
High Rates of Trauma and Mental Illness Among Female Inmates
Female prisoners experience higher rates of mental health diagnoses than male inmates, according to the RANZCP data. Close to 80 percent of women in Northern Territory prisons presented with a diagnosed mental health condition, while nearly 70 percent faced a substance use disorder.
Dr. Dorrington noted that these figures reflect profound psychosocial disadvantage, poverty, and trauma. Danica Winterton and Rob Assan, mental health workers with the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA), see these impacts firsthand every week at the Darwin Correctional Centre. Ms. Winterton reported that every female client they work with has experienced the removal of their children, compounding their ongoing trauma. Additionally, 29 percent of female inmates surveyed in the study carried a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis—a figure Dr. Dorrington described as an underestimate.
Systemic Barriers and the Need for Dual Diagnosis Centres
Inmates leaving custody frequently encounter fragmented support systems. Ms. Winterton explained that residential rehabilitation facilities often refuse to accept individuals with mental health conditions due to training limitations, while mental health services turn away clients struggling with substance use disorders.
This policy gap leaves vulnerable individuals trapped in cycles of homelessness and institutionalization. “All of our female clients are homeless, diagnosed with schizophrenia and have substance use disorders, and they’re just bouncing between services who are blaming one another,” Ms. Winterton said. To combat this, Ms. Winterton suggested dedicated dual-diagnosis centers capable of treating people with multiple mental illnesses.
Cultural Stigma and the Call for Culturally Appropriate Care
Beyond institutional hurdles, cultural stigma surrounding mental health persists within First Nations communities, according to NAAJA worker Rob Assan. Bridging this gap requires trusted community members to step inside correctional facilities.
“It takes a long time for our mob to trust,” Mr. Assan said, emphasizing the need for an Aboriginal person to explain mental health conditions and medications clearly. Dr. Dorrington added that treating root causes like homelessness and disadvantage is essential, noting that incarceration often worsens mental health rather than rehabilitating individuals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of Northern Territory prisoners have a mental illness?
According to the RANZCP study, almost two in three prisoners have a lifetime diagnosis of a mental illness.
Which mental health and substance issues are most common in NT prisons?
Schizophrenia is the most predominant mental illness, and substance use disorder affects nearly 70 percent of female prisoners and just over half of all male inmates.
Do Northern Territory prisons have specialized mental health facilities?
No. NT prisons currently lack a secure forensic mental health facility or dedicated services to treat substance use disorders.
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