Mental Health in a Prison Setting: Implementation and Practice (mhPIP)

The prevalence of mental illness among mentally ill offenders exceeds that in the general population. The quality and scope of care for the mentally ill in prisons and police cells fall below that of the general population, particularly in resource-poor settings in low- and middle-income nations. Reports from Uganda, a low-income country, suggest that prevalence rates of up to 36% of suspects receiving various jail terms for their offenses were mentally ill at the time of committing their crimes, but the suspects did not receive any form of pre-trial psychiatric assessment. Reasons for this are several, including negative societal attitudes towards mental illness, negative attitudes of law enforcement officers toward offenders, ignorance among law enforcement staff, and inadequate mental health human resources. Additionally, inadequate time to teach forensic psychiatry to medical students is allocated in the medical curricula in low- and middle-income countries where infectious diseases control takes center stage in health policy formulation. Psychosis, bipolar disorder, neurocognitive disorders, alcohol and substance use disorders may be the usual forms of mental illness in prisons and police cells, but the manifestations of these disorders may be interpreted as the very problems requiring corrections. In some countries, a multi-disciplinary collaboration between different stakeholders involved in correctional settings is lacking. Despite these facts, research into the magnitude, and the additional impact of internment in prisons on the mental health of offenders in low- and middle-income countries require to be elucidated. The broad aim of this research topic is to define what new and evidence-based knowledge is required to implement and practice mental health services for offenders from the time of the arrest to the time of release from jail.

There is a wide gap between available research knowledge and practice within the prison setting. Deliberate efforts are needed to focus on the need to improve the ways in which attention to the care of offenders’ mental health in the course of their jail terms, make access to universal and mandatory assessment, social care, psychological and psychiatric treatments. Various aspects of mental health problems among suspected mentally ill offenders in prisons, police cells, and reform and rehabilitation schools and institutions across the globe are expected to be collated in this Research Topic devoted to Mental Health in a Prison Setting. Additionally, since women and men, children and adolescents differ in their needs and requirements while in jail or rehabilitation settings, this research topic will devote special attention to the needs of offenders based on gender and or whether they are minors or adults. Specifically, researchers are encouraged to submit their Original Research on the nature of mental health problems among convicted prisoners, the prevalence of mental illness among suspected mentally ill offenders held in police cells, and suspected offenders awaiting trial whether in adults, children, or adolescents. The burden of suicide within correctional settings also needs attention. Currently, suicide is a criminal act in most low- and middle-income countries. Efforts are required to decriminalize suicide not only in the general population but also in correctional settings. Researchers who have been involved in the development and practice of various forms of care for mentally ill offenders, convicted prisoners, persons with personality and conduct disorders are encouraged to submit their Original Research. The social, cultural, micro-environment, and genetic background in which suspected offenders live will receive special attention. The goal is to enhance the evidence-based provision of appropriate mental health services for mentally ill offenders.

The scope of this Research Topic will cover all aspects of the implementation and practice of mental health services for suspected offenders. The following themes and types of manuscripts will be reviewed for possible publication. The main types of manuscripts are; Original Research papers, Systematic Reviews and Mini-Reviews, Opinions, Perspectives, and Case Reports.

Topics include and focus on rehabilitation of offenders in prison and correctional settings without damaging the offenders mentally, emotionally and in their relations with the societies to which they are expected to return;

• Epidemiology and nature of prison mental health problems
• Adequacy of prison facilities that exist and offer comprehensive care for offenders
• mental illness among suspected and convicted offenders
• the gender-based mental health of offenders
• child and adolescent prison mental health
• assessment and multi-professional prison mental health care
• family and social care for prison mental health
• suicide in prison settings