LAUSR

Mental health problems are common in prison populations. Correctional institutions offer an important opportunity to improve prisoners’ health, which also benefit the wider public health agenda. At present, little is known about the longitudinal course of prisoners’ mental health problems during and after imprisonment. The aims of this presentation are: (a) to examine the longitudinal development of mental health problems in prison and after release; and (b) to identify individual and institutional factors associated with prisoners’ mental health problems. Data are used from the Prison Project, a nationwide and longitudinal study examining 1.904 male prisoners in the Netherlands. Participants were surveyed at various intervals during detention, and 6 and 24 months after their release. Data include detailed longitudinal information on prisoners’ self-reported mental health problems, healthcare use, prison experiences (e.g. sentence length, victimisation, receiving visits, and exercise), and background characteristics (e.g. sociodemographic characteristics, financial situation, social support, and personality traits). Prisoners reported more mental health problems in and after prison than men in the general population. Initial results demonstrate that prisoners who entered detention with pre-existing mental health problems and problematic alcohol and drug use, showed mental health improvements during detention. The high levels of prisoners’ mental problems highlight the importance of addressing mental issues in prison and ensuring the continuity of care to support prisoners with their transition into the community.