Making a Case for Gender-Responsive, Trauma-Informed Mental Health Courts: An Exploration of Participant Trauma Histories

Laura N. Honegger, Stacy Dewald
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Abstract

Considering the disproportionate number of people in the criminal justice system with trauma histories, in conjunction with the disproportionate number of people with mental illness who have experienced trauma, examining the trauma histories of mental health court (MHC) participants is essential. However, no studies to date have explicitly examined the trauma histories of this vulnerable population. Therefore, the present study aimed to describe the lifetime prevalence of traumatic events and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis among a sample of 163 participants within a Northeastern U.S. MHC. Gender differences were also explored. Overall, about 83% of MHC participants reported any lifetime trauma, with significantly higher rates among female participants (94.2%) as compared to male participants (78.4%). Approximately half of MHC participants reported experiencing childhood maltreatment, with women being significantly more likely to have experienced physical and sexual abuse during childhood than men. Further, women had higher rates of sexual assault and intimate partner violence. The percentage of women diagnosed with PTSD was about twice that of the men. These findings underscore the need for a trauma-informed and gender responsive approach to MHCs. Suggestions for MHCs to consider are offered, including trauma screening tools into MHC assessment procedures, cultivating a more trauma-informed culture by adapting key principles, and incorporating trauma-specific programming and therapies into their offerings.
为性别敏感、创伤知情的心理健康法庭做一个案例:对参与者创伤史的探索
考虑到刑事司法系统中有创伤史的人数不成比例,再加上经历过创伤的精神疾病患者人数不成比例,检查精神卫生法庭(MHC)参与者的创伤史至关重要。然而,到目前为止,还没有研究明确地调查了这一弱势群体的创伤史。因此,本研究旨在描述美国东北部MHC 163名参与者中创伤性事件和创伤后应激障碍(PTSD)诊断的终生患病率。研究还探讨了性别差异。总体而言,约83%的MHC参与者报告了任何终生创伤,女性参与者(94.2%)的比例明显高于男性参与者(78.4%)。大约一半的MHC参与者报告说,在童年时期遭受虐待,女性在童年时期遭受身体虐待和性虐待的可能性明显高于男性。此外,女性遭受性侵犯和亲密伴侣暴力的比例更高。被诊断患有PTSD的女性比例大约是男性的两倍。这些发现强调了对MHCs采取创伤知情和性别敏感方法的必要性。为MHC提供了可考虑的建议,包括将创伤筛查工具纳入MHC评估程序,通过调整关键原则培养更加了解创伤的文化,并将创伤特异性规划和治疗纳入其产品中。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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