Mental Health & Treatment of Inmates

According to the United States Department of Justice, 16 percent of inmates in jails or on probation and 7 percent of inmates in Federal prisons have been identified as having a mental illness. Thankfully, these inmates are provided access to mental health treatment, even within the walls of confinement.

Treatment Providers

• Inmates receive treatment from a wide range of mental health providers, including psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, mental health techs and mental health nurses. These mental health professionals work together as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide inmates with the best treatment possible.

Treatment and Services

• Inmates receive mental health treatment and services that include assessment, counseling, psychotherapy, medication administration and follow-up, and suicide prevention. Eligible inmates often receive forensic services that include evaluative mental health studies, which are reported to the courts. Treatment methods are determined by the inmate's individual needs, diagnoses and severity of symptoms associated with the illness.

Types of Illness

• Inmates receive treatment for a variety of mental illnesses, ranging in severity from mild to debilitating. These illnesses include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and more.

Length of Treatment

• Inmates suffering from mental illness may receive treatment for the duration of their incarceration. If, for some reason, the on-staff psychiatrist determines that an inmate is no longer a candidate for mental health services, the inmate's mental health diagnosis is adjusted to reflect that the inmate's illness has either been "resolved" or is in "remission." However, inmates who have engaged in repeated self-injurious or suicidal behaviors usually remain under the care of the psychiatrist throughout their incarceration period, for monitoring and maintenance purposes.

Continuity of Care

• Mental health programs within the criminal justice system work hard to ensure that inmates receive the same high-quality mental health care that would be available to them in the free world. Organizations such as The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare advocate for quality mental health care within the justice system.