Creating HoPE: Mental Health in Western Australian Maximum Security Prisons

Abstract

The status of prisoners' mental health has wide-reaching implications for prison inmates, prison authorities and institutions, and the general community. This article presents the mental health findings from the 2008 Health of Prisoner Evaluation (HoPE) pilot project in which 146 maximum security prisoners were interviewed across two prisons in Western Australia. Results revealed significant discrepancies across gender and Indigenous status regarding the history and treatment of mental health complaints, use of prescribed psychiatric medication, and experience of psychosocial distress. Illicit drug use and dependency, as well as patterns of self-harm and suicide are also reported. These findings highlight that imprisonment is an opportune time to screen for mental health problems and provide appropriate evidence-based treatment. Although this process may initially increase government costs, it will reduce overall expenditure by improving prisoners' ability to cope with prison to community transitions, and reduce the high rate of recidivism.

Key words:

• indigenous
• mental health
• prison
• prisoners
• recidivism
• self-harm
• suicide

Acknowledgements

The HoPE study was funded by the Faculty of Business and Law at Edith Cowan University, and considerable in-kind support was given by WA Department of Corrective Services. Special thanks to Dr. Ralph Chapman, former director of Health Services, and Mr Danny Kiely, Acting Manager of Planning, Programs & Policy, both within the Department of Corrective Services, for their ongoing support, advice and guidance. The support from the WA Office of Aboriginal Health, the Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service (GRAMS), and the Aboriginal Health Council of WA is also gratefully acknowledged. We also thank the prison staff and the prisoners who willingly disclosed personal information to assist in improving prison health services. Lastly, many thanks to Dr Ann-Claire Larsen for her assistance with this manuscript.