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Abstract

Introduction: TStatement of the Problem: The mental health of incarcerated populations is a worldwide public health concern. Released prisoners are more likely to be at risk of violent, self-harm and depression than their counterparts in the community. Upon release they are more likely to reoffend and return to prison, causing significant societal and public health costs. Interventions to address mental health and problems associated with self-harm in prison have traditionally used an individual or group-based therapy approach. Researchers have reported that such interventions are relatively expensive, difficult to sustain and require skilled staff. Systematic reviews of self-harm risk suggest that interventions should incorporate a holistic approach to managing self-harm and mental health in prisons. The challenge is therefore to identify a scalable sustainable intervention that can tackle mental health within a prison from within this perspective. In recent years the use of peer-led schemes have been identified as one possible solution. The purpose of this study is to describe the development, implementation and evaluation of a peer-led problem support mentor scheme in a UK prison site. The methodology used a co-production approach, a feasibility study and an interrupted time series design to assess impact on self-harm and violent behaviour. Findings: The results showed how interventions for mental health and self-harm could benefit from using a wholistic approach that was easily replicable across the prison site, peerled schemes are one opportunity that might address this problem going forward. Implementation of the peer-led scheme showed a reduction in self-harm behaviour.

Biography

Amanda Perry is a chartered forensic psychologist and a Senior Lecturer. Her interests focus on the methodological quality of research including systematic reviews, psychometric principles and the development of primary experimental research in offender populations.