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Abstract
This paper focuses on patients'/prisoners’ narratives that discuss the National Health Service mental healthcare provided in one Her Majesty's Prison Service establishment. In comparison to the general population, the prevalence of mental illness experienced by the prisoner population is exceedingly high. The prison environment is not conducive to mental health and this custodial clinical setting is not a useful catalyst for mental healthcare for myriad reasons. The pursuit of good mental health for patients in the penal milieu is challenging. For this medical sociology case study, qualitative semi-structured interviews are conducted with male prisoners in a Category B establishment. These participants are also primary or secondary level mental health service users. Analytical discussions concern the clinician–patient relationship and patients’ opinions regarding the mental healthcare received. Debated concepts include: understanding, care, trust, flexibility, cooperation, conversation, relaxation, enjoyment and patient power. Mental healthcare receipt experiences and environments are important.
Acknowledgements
The Economic and Social Research Council was the funding source for this work – that was conducted at the University of Nottingham. The time, support and involvement of interview participants, the fieldwork site, both NHS and HMPS staff, and study supervisors are acknowledged. Special gratitude is extended to the prisoners who so willingly discussed their mental health and mental healthcare experiences.