Interventions for Depression Amongst Australian Prison Inmates. Essay Example

Introduction

Prisoners need mental healthcare across the globe, and Australia is no exception. Group psychotherapy is one of the most effective ways of psychiatric treatment. Research shows that gender is an influence on the effectiveness of group psychotherapy either in prisons or among the regular population (Wilson, 1990). Gender also influences the rate of substance abuse as a result of depression which is one of the most widespread mental health problems.

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In a typical group setting aside from the group psychotherapy intervention, men are more talkative to stamp their authority. They do so by interruptions, disagreements, giving advice and suggestions and instructing others on what to do. However, women are different as they are more open with what they feel as they show support, affection, agreements, understanding, collaboration and praise (Wilson, 1990). It explains that women are friendlier and use the right tone when addressing others, therefore showing more support than men.

Women are often misunderstood in gender roles, behaviour and society in general. They have a different interaction pattern to men as they are more open, while men are more talkative. The gender behaviour, therefore, is vital in group psychotherapy intervention for depression amongst Australian prison inmates.

Women have less denial of their conditions than men; therefore, the group psychotherapy intervention is more likely to work for them (Wilson, 1990). Women also develop close relationships with their psychotherapist, unlike men who are less likely to understand the importance of the process. Men do not see the need to be closer to their psychotherapist most likely because they are in denial, yet the process is critical to overcoming their condition. The paper shows the effect of gender on the result of the group psychotherapy sessions for depression intervention in Australian prisons.

Literature review

Cognitive psychotherapy is essential to induce positive cognitions and eliminate negative thoughts. However, it is time-limited, but it is an effective method. For example, when an individual has depression, they tend to view their life negatively, and cognitive therapy comes in to help them solve problems better. A therapist and their patient can work together to identify the root cause of their problem.

Depression is a result of different symptoms, and the therapist can locate causal thoughts and assumptions (Wilson, 1990). Group psychotherapy is more cost-effective and better than single-client sessions. It is, therefore, suitable for a prison environment where the inmates can interact and open up around each other, which is not usually the case as they tend to stay isolated. However, factors like intense pessimism and self-absorption affect the effectiveness of group therapy sessions. It is an effective method as it results in a decrease in symptoms of depression, especially among inmates.

When analyzing the effectiveness of group psychotherapy among patients, it is crucial to take a supportive approach (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2018). It a form of non-directive method in psychotherapy. It is one of the most effective in reducing symptoms of depression. However, it works differently in different genders because men open up less than women in a group therapy session.

It is because men have more pride in themselves while women are humbler, and they open up quickly because they are in less denial of their situation. It applies to prisoners as group psychotherapy sessions work to improve the behavior of an individual towards themselves, the psychotherapist, and their fellow inmates (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2018). However, cognitive treatment works better than group psychotherapy, while the latter creates similar results to behavior modification.

Group psychotherapy deals with general concerns rather than specific ones in different forms of interventions. However, addressing general concerns achieves better results than treating specific ones (Fazel et al., 2016). In Australian prisons, inmates may not have much contact time with their psychotherapist; therefore, addressing general concerns is a huge plus in the effectiveness of the intervention technique (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2018).

In singles sessions, some prisoners may not turn up to the occasion with an open mind unless they get incentives from the psychotherapists or the prison administration (McCorkle, 1953). However, group sessions make them more comfortable than when they are alone. It works better if the prisoners need immediate assistance as they get the incentive of interaction with inmates having the same condition; therefore, they can feel better about themselves as they are not alone, and the psychotherapist is there to provide words of support (Fazel et al., 2016).

It is essential to control the behaviour of the prisoners in a group therapy session for its success. In Australian prisons, the number of prisoners attending a single group therapy session may be huge. Therefore, they may get out of control of the therapist as some individuals incite others or cause trouble by themselves. The psychotherapist can create some by-laws for the sessions that each inmate should follow to create a suitable environment for everyone to benefit from the therapy sessions (Fazel et al., 2016).

It is because many prisoners may be rebellious, especially men who do not want to conform to anything regardless of their situation. An issue like language is key to the success of the therapy session as it determines the communication environment, which should be as comfortable as possible for every prisoner involves (McCorkle, 1953). Women tend to have less rebellion comparing to men who exhibit hostile reactions.

Society is highly gendered conscious, and the Australian prisons are no exception, as there are beliefs on how women and men should behave (Huffman, 2005). There is a high rate of acceptance to these norms, but different people act and relate differently. It is reflective of people's different personalities that affect how they react to different situations, but there is an inclination to some gender norms.

It affects how an individual responds to depression symptoms, especially for prisoners who are at a high risk of mental disorder (Huffman, 2005). There is no particular relation between gender and the effect of psychotherapy, but there is considerable attention from scholars and researchers in the area. Most of the research and reviews focus on gender of therapists and clients and the result of psychotherapy sessions. Most of the results of the investigations show that females respond better than males to psychotherapy sessions, and so it is for prisoners in Australian prisons (Huffman, 2005).

Another notable finding is the effect of the gender of the psychotherapist on the outcome of the group psychotherapy intervention. Most of the researches show that female psychotherapists produce better results from the sessions than their male colleagues in the profession. However, the relation is a weak link as an individual responds differently to the group therapy intervention for prisoners in Australia (Huffman, 2005).

Group psychotherapy intervention is not the only form of therapy, but it is the most effective, especially in a prison setting. Prisoners have less time to attend to these sessions; therefore, research is biased towards one method of psychotherapy (Johnson et al., 2019). However, there are differences in the preferences of the female and male prisoners regarding group intervention psychotherapy. Female prisoners prefer that the psychotherapist gets closer to them and have someone that understands them and listens (Johnson et al., 2019). It shows that they prefer that the session becomes expressive with feelings of affiliation and empathy. Group psychotherapy is supportive, and it works in favor of female prisoners.

Male prisoners tend to isolate themselves when they have depression symptoms, and naturally, males want to be distinct and independent. It means that the group psychotherapy intervention for male prisoners should give them an incentive for independence and emotional distance (Johnson et al., 2019). Males, therefore, need more help to express themselves than females.

It shows that they have a lower tolerance for expressiveness and affective awareness. It is because they utilize coping methods; therefore, they are more in denial of their feelings and situation, consequently suppressing emotions and opinions that could be useful in the group psychotherapy intervention. A psychiatrist, therefore, has to incorporate different methods like interpretive therapy in the group psychotherapy intervention (Johnson et al., 2019). It helps to allow an individual to express the conflicts they have in mind and their uncomfortable emotions.

When understanding the differences in response between female and male prisoners to group intervention psychotherapy, it is essential to know the attitude from both parties on their attitude towards the process (Kersten et al., 2016). The genders have different characteristics that determine their attitude. Female prisoners are more likely to cooperate and commit themselves to the group intervention psychotherapy. It shows that they have more belief that the process is vital to assist them in alleviating their depression symptoms. Male prisoners are more likely to show less interest and have less confidence in the group intervention psychotherapy (Kersten et al., 2016).

It is evident as they show less commitment, and some are likely to miss some sessions or attend unwillingly. Group intervention psychotherapy consists of activities that the therapist might want the patients to do, and females are more likely to perform better than males. These activities are critical in the improvement of the prisoners to eliminate their depression symptoms (Kersten et al., 2016). The rate of participation gives a picture of how the group intervention psychotherapy is likely to turn out for every prisoner. Excellent cooperation produces a better response to the group psychotherapy intervention (Kersten et al., 2016). It is, therefore, evident that female prisoners are better placed to respond positively to the group psychotherapy intervention.

Female prisoners respond better, but it stems from other factors affecting their life even before they get to prison. Females are better off with relationships, collaboration, and empowerment. Therefore, they socialize better in a group setting, making the psychotherapy intervention process more successful (McCorkle, 1953). The psychotherapists, therefore, have an easier time with the majority of the female prisoners as they in a better position to improve their decision-making and socialize better.

The psychotherapy environment is, therefore, more comfortable and conducive for the therapist to employ their skills, knowledge, methods, and relevant activities (McCorkle, 1953). The majority of the male prisoners, on the contrary, do not value the process, and the psychotherapist is likely to have a difficult time making them respond better to treat their depression symptoms.