The lasting impact of COVID-19 on forensic mental health: A review of shifts in patient profiles, service delivery, and legal considerations

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound and lasting impact on forensic mental health, reshaping patient profiles, disrupting service delivery, and introducing new legal and ethical challenges. This narrative review examines the long-term implications of the pandemic on forensic psychiatric populations, mental health service provision, and the justice system. Evidence suggests that rates of severe mental illness, including psychosis, depression, and anxiety, have increased among forensic patients, exacerbated by isolation, stress, and reduced access to care. Additionally, substance use disorders, and co-occurring psychiatric conditions have become more prevalent, complicating treatment and rehabilitation efforts. The pandemic also accelerated the adoption of telepsychiatry in forensic settings, improving accessibility but raising concerns about the reliability of remote assessments for competency evaluations and risk assessments. Inpatient and prison-based forensic psychiatric services experienced staff shortages, increased patient aggression, and limited access to therapeutic programs, further straining the system. Court closures and legal case backlogs delayed forensic evaluations, raising human rights concerns for detained individuals. Ethical dilemmas emerged regarding involuntary hospitalization, treatment prioritization, and resource allocation. As the forensic mental health field transitions into a post-pandemic landscape, key lessons include the need for hybrid forensic assessment models, strengthened forensic infrastructure, and better integration of legal and clinical perspectives. Future research should focus on developing resilient forensic mental health policies and ensuring equitable access to care while maintaining legal and ethical standards.