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The 6-STEP AMICABLE Programme: Addressing Mental health In Custody A Brief Learning Environment
Context
Many people in prison have mental health problems. Prisoners suffering from depression are more likely to struggle when released and are more likely to return to prison than those without a mental health diagnosis. Some prisoners receive treatment, but many do not get the help they need because resources are scarce. Current treatments for mental health in prisons focus on the individual, but recent evidence supports a more holistic, prison-based approach. To address this, we undertook a project evaluating a brief and simple peer-led Problem Support Mentor Scheme that is easy to deliver and is disseminated across the whole prison site.
The research
Our four-year study implemented and evaluated a Problem Support Mentor Scheme across seven prisons via five interconnected work packages (WPs). In WP1, we co-produced an implementation toolkit with staff and prisoners. Through WP2, we tested the new tool kit and talked to prison staff and prisoners about their experiences. WP3 evaluated the scheme's impact on quality of life, depression symptoms, NHS resource use, self-harm, and violent incidents. WP4 assessed the cost-effectiveness of the PSMS. Finally, WP5 examined post-release outcomes through a ‘through the gate’ volunteering initiative and evaluated rates of return to prison.
Featured publications
- Perry, A., Waterman, M. and House, A. (2016) ‘Problem-solving training for suicidal prisoners’, in D. Pratt (ed.), The Prevention of Suicide in Prison: Cognitive Behavioural Approaches. London: Routledge, pp.69–83.
- Problem-solving training: assessing the feasibility and acceptability of delivering and evaluating a problem-solving training model for front-line prison staff and prisoners who self-harm
- The effect of a peer-led problem-support intervention on self-harm and violence in prison: an interrupted time series analysis using routinely collected prison data