The management of released prisoners with severe and enduring mental illness

Abstract

Prisoners have higher rates of mental disorder than the general population. Imprisonment provides an opportunity to engage with mental health services. Release from prison is associated with a range of negative outcomes including increased mortality and suicide. This prospective, longitudinal cohort design study established the proportion of prisoners with severe and enduring mental illness in contact with prison mental health in-reach services who make contact with Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT) on discharge from prison. A total of 137 participants were recruited from prison mental health in-reach team caseloads and assessed as having severe and enduring mental illness. At a six-month follow-up, 53 (39%) had been released, but only four were in contact with the CMHT. There is a need for robust discharge planning and proactive through care for prisoners with mental health problems.