Brian McKenna1, Jeremy Skipworth2, Rees Tapsell3, Krishna Pillai4, Dominic Madell5, Alexander Simpson6, James Cavney4, Paul Rouse7. 1. Professor of Forensic Mental Health, School of Clinical Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. 2. Clinical Director, Auckland Regional Forensic Psychiatry Service, Waitemata District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand. 3. Executive Director, Midland Regional Forensic Psychiatric Service, Waikato District Health Board, Hamilton, New Zealand. 4. Consultant Psychiatrist, Auckland Regional Forensic Psychiatry Service, Waitemata District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand. 5. Research fellow, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. 6. Associate Professor, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. 7. Professor, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to describe the impact of a mental health assertive community treatment prison model of care (PMOC) on improving the ability to identify prisoner needs, provide interventions and monitor their efficacy. METHODS: We carried out a file review across five prisons of referrals in the year before the implementation of the PMOC in 2010 ( n = 423) compared with referrals in the year after ( n = 477). RESULTS: Some improvements in the identification of needs and providing interventions were detected. There was increased use of medication management and clinically significant improvement in addressing engagement with families. Monthly multi-disciplinary team face-to-face contact improved. CONCLUSIONS: Meeting the needs of mentally ill prisoners is challenged by the complexity of the custodial environment. Improvements made resulted from changing the model of care, rather than adding new resources.
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to describe the impact of a mental health assertive community treatment prison model of care (PMOC) on improving the ability to identify prisoner needs, provide interventions and monitor their efficacy. METHODS: We carried out a file review across five prisons of referrals in the year before the implementation of the PMOC in 2010 ( n = 423) compared with referrals in the year after ( n = 477). RESULTS: Some improvements in the identification of needs and providing interventions were detected. There was increased use of medication management and clinically significant improvement in addressing engagement with families. Monthly multi-disciplinary team face-to-face contact improved. CONCLUSIONS: Meeting the needs of mentally ill prisoners is challenged by the complexity of the custodial environment. Improvements made resulted from changing the model of care, rather than adding new resources.
Entities:
Keywords:
mental health interventions; mental health prison in-reach services; prisoner mental health
Authors: Alexander I F Simpson; Cory Gerritsen; Margaret Maheandiran; Vito Adamo; Tobias Vogel; Lindsay Fulham; Tamsen Kitt; Andrew Forrester; Roland M Jones Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2022-01-18 Impact factor: 4.157