-52 prison in run and other valuable information that would not be accessible otherwise. A casual setting also helps set a less confrontational and more cooperative attitude that helps better understand the problems faced by prison staff and by prisoners with regard to solitary confinement. One NPM also pointed out that it can be the prison director to point out the members of staff to interview because they need to be sensitised to the topic of solitary confinement. Interviewing the prison chaplain is also very important because they can be a valuable source of information to often identify problems. Interviews with staff can bring to surface the hidden reasons for solitary confinement such as: • Conflict management • Understaffing • Inter-prisoner violence • Underestimating health consequences • Perceived lack of alternatives to solitary confinement 4.3.4. Monitoring effects of solitary confinement on isolated people As illustrated, isolation has particularly harmful effects on the people who are subjected to it. If the NPM cannot visit the isolation sections with the help of a medical professional (even if it would be desirable to always include one in the NPM delegation), it is possible to recognize some of the signs that might indicate the deterioration of the physical and mental health of a detainee, which can be observed at different degrees and times depending on the person. Upon speaking with isolated detainees, it is important to notice whether they present any of these symptoms and effects of solitary confinement139, (see background for more details on the effects of solitary confinement). Some may present these effects in a very dramatic way while others may be more subtle: • Difficulty maintaining eye contact (e.g. detainees look at the floor when talking to the monitoring body) • Evasive contact (detainees try to avoid contact) 139. Pétur Hauksson, Working towards harmonized detention standards in Europe – the role of NPMs, Rome workshop on solitary confinement, Rome, via IV November 149, 27-28 January 2020.