Reference: 2011-001 - The Mental Health Needs of WA reception prisoners

Researchers: Dr Sophie Davison, Prof Vera Morgan, Prof Daniel Rock, Prof Aleksandar Janca, A/Prof Frank Morgan, Prof Assen Jablensky (The University of Western Australia); Prof Tony Butler (University of New South Wales); Mr Michael Mitchell (Statewide Indigenous Mental Health Service); Dr Edward Petch (Statewide Forensic Mental Health Service)

Funding: WA Department of Corrective Services, WA Drug and Alcohol Office, Mental Health Commission

Project summary: Prisoner populations are characterised by disadvantage, stigmatisation, social exclusion and poor health. Studies from around the world have consistently shown that prisoners have higher rates of mental disorder than the general community, especially psychosis, major depression and antisocial personality disorder. They have high rates of substance misuse, self- harm, suicide, comorbidity of different disorders and high rates of mortality, morbidity and mental health service use after release. Their treatment needs are often not well met either in the health system or the prison system and they may revolve between the two. In the case of Indigenous offenders disadvantage is further compounded as Indigenous Australians suffer more ill-health, die at much younger ages, have lower levels of educational attainment and income, higher rates of unemployment and poorer housing conditions than the rest of the Australian populations (Grace 2010). Aboriginal people are incarcerated at alarming rates, despite the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in custody. WA has the highest rate of age standardised incarceration of Aboriginal people per head of population of any State with 40% of the prison population describing themselves as Aboriginal. There has been no comprehensive survey of prisoner mental health in WA to date.

The project aims to describe and quantify the nature and extent of mental disorders including alcohol and substance misuse disorders amongst all WA reception prisoners, as well as their met and unmet needs. The plan is to approach a consecutive sample of reception prisons throughout WA and interview those who consent using a standardised assessment interview that is internationally recognised and was used in the National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. We will also look at their pathways into and out of prison. It is hoped that the project will provide high quality data that will assist in the planning and provision of mental health services to mentally disordered offenders both within the criminal justice system and the health system.

Progress: Ongoing