Community-Based Mental Health Treatment Preceding Jail Detention Among Adults with Serious Mental Illness

ABSTRACT

This study examined the lifetime and past-year community mental health treatment use of 282 male and 149 female jail detainees with SMI. Although most participants reported high lifetime rates of mental health treatment they believed effective, only a minority accessed treatment in the year and month before arrest. Women were less likely to receive treatment than men and more often left treatment against medical advice. Both substance use and post-traumatic stress disorder were significantly undertreated and care was provided predominantly by psychiatrists. The implications for expanding treatment availability and access to critical services such as housing and employment are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Serious mental illness
• criminal offenders
• community mental health treatment