AUTHOR=Coulling Ryan , Johnston Matthew S. , Ricciardelli Rosemary 

TITLE=“We must be mentally strong”: exploring barriers to mental health in correctional services

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1258944

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1258944

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>The inherent nature of work in correctional services can have negative effects on correctional worker mental health and well-being.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>The current study, a replication, analyzes survey data collected from provincial and territorial correctional workers staffed in six regions across Canada (<italic>n</italic> = 192). Specifically, participants were asked at the end of an extensive mental health and well-being survey an open-ended question requesting any additional feedback or information.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Four predominant themes were identified in the data: (1) stigma pertaining to a need to recognize mental health concerns within correctional services; (2) the idea that correctional services wear on the mind and body; (3) a need for better relationships with and support from correctional supervisors, upper management, and ministerial leadership; and (4) suggestions to improve correctional services to help the sector realize its full potential and maximize workplace health.</p></sec><sec><title>Discussion</title><p>We discuss the implications of these findings, with an emphasis on finding ways to promote positive organizational and cultural change in correctional services.</p></sec>