Essay Example on Behind Bars: Unveiling Mental Health Challenges and Solutions in Prisons

Article 1: Mental health in prisons: A public health agenda

The majority of inmates are victims of mental illness. The issue of mental health is starting to occupy a central point in the establishment of health services in prisons. In addition, there is a developing recognition of the unfortunate situation of prisons with significant mental illness. Given that the U.S. prison set-up is the biggest in the world, mental sickness is represented in a disproportionate manner, where about half of the imprisoned people suffering from mental illness (Hoke, 2015). Therefore, public knowledge of the commitment and scale of jails to mental sickness and health, and comprehending the role of prisons, is necessary for the establishments that would enhance and protect general mental health; and also create a safer and healthier society (Fraser, 2009). The paper will briefly summarize information from four articles, discussing mental conditions and prisons.

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The agenda of mental conditions in jails is an underestimated challenge and problem for jail set-ups everywhere. According to Fraser (2009), prison systems in industrialized societies have mental health and sickness issues across the list of healthcare burdens. Fraser’s article reviews the work of Von Marle and Blaauw, which is explained in the WHO Guide and displays clearly the risk of mental sickness in jails internationally. Von Marle and Blaauw claim that the presence of other severe conditions and depression is higher among women inmates than men (Fraser, 2009). Fraser’s article talks of “The Trencin Statement” which responded to the statistics provided by Von Marle and Blaauw ‘s work. It was initiated by WHO’s Health in Jail project, which concentrated on mental illness and mental health in two yearly meetings held during the fourteen years of its presence (Fraser, 2009). According to the project, most jail set-ups maintain the burden of enduring and severe mental illness amidst mentally challenged offenders, especially those with crime as an outstanding portion of their character (Fraser, 2009). Fraser (2009) claims that, the central schedule for mental sickness in jails has been the treatment and recognition of individuals; especially those with enduring and severe mental sickness.

On the other hand, there is also a need to treat and recognize people with the developing realization that, to a lesser or greater degree, most of the inmates suffer from mental health issues. However, the agenda on mental sickness does not halt here, it is attractive and also possible to prevent the sickness or worsening of the sickness among inmates while joining prison (Fraser, 2009). The issue of mental illness in jails faces several challenges, such as appreciating that mental sickness exists not in isolation, but at a personal level and basically not across groups in jails. According to Fraser (2009), prisons are important to public mental health, since they provide an enhancement to general mental health through proper management of individuals with enduring and severe mental illness. Focusing on the future of prisons, health, justice, and public practitioners need to understand that jails should not be grounds for damping individuals with mental sickness (Fraser, 2009). After reviewing Fraser’s article, I am satisfied with the information provided concerning mental illness in jails, since it clearly explains the situation and also provides a way of dealing with the issue in the future. Before reading the article, I was not aware of the increasing rates of mental sickness cases among prisoners, the study has however informed me of this fact and also provided new knowledge that women inmates are affected more than their male counterparts.

Article 2: Vulnerability and Just Desert: A Theory of Sentencing and Mental Illness

Criminal punishment is associated with hard treatment. Johnston (2013), states that when an individual with a mental disorder is sentenced for a long term for committing a simple robbery, he or she is likely to serve most of the jail term suffering, lonely, and disoriented. Johnston’s article (2013), affirms that just as most people with mental illness are exposed to victimization outside prisons; they are also more vulnerable than non-ill individuals to sexual and physical victimization in prison. Johnston (2013), argues that the aspect of vulnerability due to mental illness is important, and thus it should be considered during court rulings to ensure that a criminal is not over-punished. During a sentence, the judge is usually aware of the offender’s mental state and therefore should consider the dangers that jail poses to a criminal given his or her illness. Johnston’s article (2013) assesses the desert theory, which looks at the importance of vulnerability because of significant mental sickness for proportionate penalty. Several state laws require officers in the probation office to include information on the history of mental health of an offender when presenting reports in court. According to Johnston (2013), the chances of victimization of mentally ill inmates are high. He states that recent studies suggest the common occurrence of physical assault in jail, increases inmate victimization. Johnston’s article also looks at the rising chances of sexual victimization in jails. According to Johnston (2013), prisoners with significant mental sickness are at increased risk of being sexually victimized in jails, especially by other prisoners.

Prisons need compliance with a complicated set of procedures and rules that regulate inmates’ characters. Prisoners with significant mental sickness are usually limited in the capability of coping with the social stressors and environment of imprisonment, and to adhere to the regulations set in jails (Johnston, 2013). Due to their perceived dangerous nature, prisoners with mental disorders may be placed in solitary confinement as a disciplinary measure, this however is a threat to their health condition. Johnston’s article reaches a conclusion that judges should consider the mental health condition of an offender before issuing a sentence. The study has enhanced my knowledge of the need to understand the mental condition of a person before judging. Before reviewing Johnston’s study, I was aware of the vulnerability of mentally ill individuals to victimization, however, from the study I am now aware of the intensity of sexual assaults in prisons.

Article 3: From positive screen to engagement in treatment: a preliminary study of the impact of a new model of care for prisoners with serious mental illness

The high spread of significant mental conditions in jails remains a problem for services for mental disorders. Several inmates with severe mental sickness are not cared for. Recent studies suggest that most of the inmates with severe mental disorders remain untreated and undetected (Pillai et al., 2016). In 2011, “a Prison model of care “(PMOC) was created as a region-based procedure to enhance the quality and consistency of jail mental health care around the northern region of New Zealand (Pillai et al., 2016). The model advocated for the screening of inmates at the reception, to determine their mental health status. Pillai et al.’s article aims to describe the implication of assessment, referral, and screening, to the path of receiving specialized mental health services in prisons. Inmates who test positive after screening at reception would be referred to the team of in-reaching mental services in the prison. Afterward, the mental in-reach nurses would perform an initiative to triage assessment to establish if the inmate should for a more comprehensive and further health assessment (Pillai et al., 2016). The model caused a rise in the number of prisoners throughout all platforms of an in-reaching health path for “screening to referral to treatment and engagement “. The goals of the model were achieved without additional resources by improving the clarity and consistency of professional tasks and roles (Pillai et al., 2016). I believe the information provided by the article concerning PMOC is important for the management of mental illness in jails. From the article, I have learned new techniques for screening and treating mental illness.

Article 4: Mental Illness and Prisoners: Concerns for Communities and Healthcare Providers

Mentally sick people usually find themselves in situations that are less ideal for compounding social issues like unemployment and illicit substances. According to Hoke (2015), jail life can provide a rehabilitating environment and an enhanced social circumstance, however, prisons usually fall short of achieving acceptable levels of healthcare. Several studies have asserted the “right to health” as an essential human right, whereby anybody despite of legal law, is entitled to getting sufficient healthcare (Hoke, 2015). Under this right, the driving energy to develop protocols and standards on how to treat prisoners is established. World Health Corporation also employs the basic right when developing a guide that assists countries in improving the health of their people, particularly stating the need for improving healthcare in jails to best offer services to prisoners (Hoke, 2015). Enhancement of mental conditions-care in jails is empowered by the thought that there should be equal provision of health care in all aspects of the community. Studies indicate that the rate of imprisonment of individuals with mental illness throughout Western nations is high (Hoke, 2015). The high rate of imprisonment is a result of synergistic factors associated with social regulations. Alteration of policies has raised the duration length served by mentally ill prisoners. In addition, the misconception that mentally sick individuals are dangerous has caused most of them to be imprisoned (Hoke, 2015). The major aim of prisoner procedures is to help rehabilitate imprisoned individuals into rule-following citizens and to reduce the increasing cost of related recidivism. Even though it is difficult to compare, programs that contribute to the reduction of recidivism are drug misuse treatment, employment services, and education (Hoke, 2015). On the other hand, communities ‘efforts to decrease recidivism by changing nonviolent mentally sick people out of correction facilities and moving them to community-based mental health services (Hoke, 2015). I agree with the information provided by Hoke concerning mental illness and the reduction of recidivism in society. After reviewing Hoke’s article, I have gained new knowledge about recidivism and the measures the community takes to handle mentally ill inmates.

The issue of mental illness in prisons has been a major problem for several countries. The judges are entrusted with the power of giving judgment that takes into consideration the mental health condition of offenders. From the research, it is clear that mentally ill individuals face victimization, particularly those imprisoned. In addition, inmates with mental problems are likely to face sexual violations while in prison. It, therefore, is essential for the concerned authorities to undertake measures that ensure the safety of mentally ill inmates. The paper has summarized four articles, discussing the issue of mental health in prisons. It, however, acknowledges that there is a need for further study, due to the broad nature of the topic.

References

Fraser, A. (2009). Mental health in prisons: A public health agenda. International Journal Of Prisoner Health, 5(3), 132-140. https://doi.org/10.1080/1744920090311578

Hoke, S., (2015) "Mental Illness and Prisoners: Concerns for Communities and Healthcare Providers " OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 20, No. 1.