Fiona Davidson1,2,3, Bobbie Clugston1,4, Michelle Perrin2, Megan Williams5, Edward Heffernan1,2, Stuart A Kinner6,7,8,9. 1. Forensic Mental Health Group, Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Australia. 2. Queensland Forensic Mental Health Service, Metro North Mental Health Services, Australia. 3. NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Offender Health, UNSW, Australia. 4. Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs Branch, Clinical Excellence Division, Queensland Health, Australia. 5. Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Australia. 6. Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Australia. 7. Justice Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Australia. 8. Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University, Australia. 9. Mater Research Institute-UQ, University of Queensland, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The rapidly growing number of people in prison in Australia, combined with the high prevalence of mental disorder in this population, results in high demand for mental health services in prison settings. Despite their critical role as part of a national mental health response, prison mental health services (PMHS) in Australia have been poorly characterised. In this paper, we describe findings of the first national survey of PMHS in Australia. METHODS: We distributed a survey to key representatives of PMHS in all Australian states and territories in 2016. RESULTS: Our method constitutes a replicable process for quantifying and comparing PMHS in Australia. We describe the structure, governance and staffing models in seven jurisdictions. When compared against international recommendations, only one Australian jurisdiction (the ACT) is funded to provide services at a level equivalent to mental health services provided in the community. CONCLUSION: Prison mental health services in Australia are delivered by a complex mix of government, private sector and non-government services. Services appear to be severely under-resourced when compared with the available benchmarks.
OBJECTIVE: The rapidly growing number of people in prison in Australia, combined with the high prevalence of mental disorder in this population, results in high demand for mental health services in prison settings. Despite their critical role as part of a national mental health response, prison mental health services (PMHS) in Australia have been poorly characterised. In this paper, we describe findings of the first national survey of PMHS in Australia. METHODS: We distributed a survey to key representatives of PMHS in all Australian states and territories in 2016. RESULTS: Our method constitutes a replicable process for quantifying and comparing PMHS in Australia. We describe the structure, governance and staffing models in seven jurisdictions. When compared against international recommendations, only one Australian jurisdiction (the ACT) is funded to provide services at a level equivalent to mental health services provided in the community. CONCLUSION: Prison mental health services in Australia are delivered by a complex mix of government, private sector and non-government services. Services appear to be severely under-resourced when compared with the available benchmarks.
Authors: Christie C Browne; Daria Korobanova; Prabin Chemjong; Anthony W F Harris; Nick Glozier; John Basson; Sarah-Jane Spencer; Kimberlie Dean Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2022-09-20 Impact factor: 5.435