Feasibility testing of a peer support programme for prisoners with common mental disorders and substance use

IF 1.1 4区医学 Q3 CRIMINOLOGY & PENOLOGY

Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health Pub Date : 2023-04-11 DOI:10.1002/cbm.2287

Sreekanth Thekkumkara, Aarti Jagannathan, Krishna Prasad Muliyala, Ambi Joseph, Pratima Murthy

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引用次数: 2

Abstract

Background

The prevalence of mental disorders and substance use among prisoners is high. Convicted prisoners of ‘good behaviour’ can be part of a peer support system in prisons.

Aim

To evaluate the feasibility of a peer support programme for prisoners with common mental disorders and substance use in prison.

Method

The study used a mixed method research design, with a quasi-experimental approach (single group pre-post without control). It was conducted in two phases: Phase I. Thirty-five peers/convicted prisoners were recruited through advertisements on the prisoners' community radio station. Volunteers with good behaviour reports were given training over 5 days to recognise mental and substance use disorders and provide basic peer support in prison; their attitudes and knowledge were tested before and after the training. Phase II. Feasibility of the peer support programme was tested by (i) recording the number of cases identified and referred, (ii) pre- and post-evaluation of well-being, coping, and symptom severity of those supported and (iii) evaluating qualitatively the experience of the peer supporters and service users.

Results

Thirty-five peer supporters identified 49 cases over 3 months. These cases showed significant improvement in well-being (Z −1.962; p < 0.050) and reduction in symptom severity (Z −1.913; 0.056). There was a significant improvement in the peers supporters' self-esteem from pre- to post-training (t −3.31; p < 0.002), improvement in their benevolence (t −4.37; p < 0.001) and a significant reduction in their negative attitudes to mental illness (Z −3.518; p < 0.001). A thematic model of peer support encompassed self-experienced benefits for the peer supporter, wider recognition of peer supporters in the prison, challenges to this kind of support, experience of training and visions for future work.

Conclusion

The peer support programme was experienced positively by the peer-supporters and supported. Common mental disorders, substance use and suicidality were recognised and appropriately referred. A full-scale evaluation of this promising programme is warranted.

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为患有常见精神障碍和药物滥用的囚犯开展同伴支助方案的可行性测试

背景囚犯中精神障碍和药物使用的患病率很高。被判“行为良好”的囚犯可以成为监狱同伴支持系统的一部分。目的评估为监狱中有常见精神障碍和药物滥用的囚犯实施同伴支助方案的可行性。方法采用混合方法研究设计，采用准实验方法(单组前后无对照)。该项目分两个阶段进行:第一阶段，通过囚犯社区广播电台的广告招募35名同龄人/被定罪的囚犯。行为良好的志愿者接受了为期5天的培训，以识别精神和物质使用障碍，并在监狱中提供基本的同伴支持;在培训前后对他们的态度和知识进行了测试。第二阶段。通过以下方式测试同伴支持计划的可行性:(i)记录确定和转介的个案数量，(ii)对受支持者的幸福感、应对和症状严重程度进行前后评估，以及(iii)对同伴支持者和服务使用者的经验进行定性评估。结果35名同行支持者在3个月内识别出49例病例。这些病例表现出显著的幸福感改善(Z−1.962;p & lt;0.050)，症状严重程度降低(Z−1.913;0.056)。同伴支持者的自尊从训练前到训练后有显著提高(t−3.31;p & lt;0.002)，仁爱程度提高(t−4.37;p & lt;0.001)，对精神疾病的消极态度显著降低(Z - 3.518;p & lt;0.001)。同伴支持的主题模式包括同伴支持者的自我体验利益、监狱中同伴支持者的更广泛认可、这种支持的挑战、培训经验和对未来工作的展望。结论同伴支持和被支持者对同伴支持方案有积极的体验。常见的精神障碍、药物使用和自杀行为得到确认并得到适当转诊。有必要对这个有希望的方案进行全面评价。

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来源期刊

Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health Multiple-

CiteScore

1.60

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Criminal Behaviour & Mental Health – CBMH – aims to publish original material on any aspect of the relationship between mental state and criminal behaviour. Thus, we are interested in mental mechanisms associated with offending, regardless of whether the individual concerned has a mental disorder or not. We are interested in factors that influence such relationships, and particularly welcome studies about pathways into and out of crime. These will include studies of normal and abnormal development, of mental disorder and how that may lead to offending for a subgroup of sufferers, together with information about factors which mediate such a relationship.