That could be organising appointments with a substance misuse worker, a course of cognitive behavioural therapy or study groups in alcohol or anger management. Additionally, a lot of initiatives run in partnership with local organisations, such as visits by Pets as Therapy and a ‘listening’ scheme run by the Samaritans, have had a positive impact on mental wellbeing.
“A number of prisoners have said they enjoy the dogs coming in,” says Andy. “It gives them a sense of normality and calmness. The Samaritans run a listening scheme to train prisoners to listen to each other, offering comfort at difficult times.
The transition from life outside and then into prison can have a significant impact on an individual. Many prisoners have been everyday citizens prior to incarceration – they may be first-time offenders who were leading normal lives and have to adjust to prison, and that includes having to deal with relationships breaking up and losing access to children.”
In a bid to encourage stronger family interaction, and in the knowledge that a prisoner with family support is far less likely to reoffend, the prison service recently launched ‘family visits’. In these sessions, prisoners can spend quality time with their loved ones, maintaining family ties that will help them rehabilitate into the community when they are released.
With a greater emphasis on mental health, in a society where it has become more common to discuss such problems, Andy finds that more and more prisoners will seek help if they need it.
“People are becoming more responsive to mental health,” he says. “We are well set up to act as a safety net for people who come into prison. But we need to make sure that safety is maintained when prisoners are released, so we make sure they have access to services they may not be able to afford – we work with Health and Community Services, the Shelter Trust and the Safeguarding Hub so there is a
network of support in place, such as access to GPs.”
But mental and physical health go hand in hand, and Andy has found that the prison’s smoking ban has had a positive impact on all aspects of health.
“It is one of the most successful projects we’ve had,” he says. “More prisoners are accessing the gym and lots more feel able to participate in sport. It has a knock-on effect on mental health.”
It is not just the health care team at the prison who play a role in supporting mental health. The prison officers, all of whom are mental health first aiders, monitor prisoners and can report if they are experiencing low moods.
“Staff are able to anticipate mental health issues,” Andy explains. “Prison officers are the first line of observing prisoners and will know how they are responding to being in prison and how their mental health is on a daily basis. We get a lot of assessment referrals from prison officers.”
But help is not just available for prisoners. The SoJPS care team, made up of a member from the health care department, a unit manager and a senior officer, provides a confidential service to all members of prison staff who may require support. All care team members undergo training to carry out this role. Help and support is not just confined to specific incidents – the team offer help in any situation and or circumstance that causes distress to staff.
“A prison can be a hugely abusive environment to work in at times,” explains Andy. “Prisoners can be threatening and abusive. Not only that but if a prisoner is stressed when arriving in prison, it can impact on those working with them.”
Furthermore, staff absence has been at a record low recently, thanks to the training and support available.
“We get involved earlier when people are off sick,” Andy explains. “We always have our eye on mental health.”
20/20 - Mental Health Page 19
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