The Punjab Home Department has devised a plan to assess the mental health of prisoners in 43 jails in the province.
The department has directed the chief psychologist to visit five jails each month and compile a detailed report on the mental well-being of the inmates.
According to a notification issued by the department, the chief psychologist in the prisons inspectorate will visit at least two regions of the province every month to inspect the jails.
During the visits, the performance of psychologists in each jail will be evaluated and necessary actions will be taken to improve prisoner behaviour and rehabilitation.
The department emphasised that the chief psychologist must personally inspect the mental health centres in all jails.
A spokesperson said both senior and junior psychologists had been deployed in prisons across the province for the welfare of inmates.
There are currently 44 senior and 43 junior psychologists working in Punjab's jails.
They are responsible for conducting a comprehensive mental health examination of each prisoner within 24 hours of their arrival.
The spokesperson added that the psychologists were also tasked with holding counseling sessions for prisoners exhibiting violent behaviour and training prison staff to handle inmates under mental stress.
The department specifically instructed the psychologists to take steps for the rehabilitation of prisoners suffering from drug addiction and psychological disorders.
Special attention is being given to improving the mental health of juvenile and female prisoners.
During each monthly visit, the chief psychologist will assess the situation and submit a report to the home secretary, the spokesperson added.
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