IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i21p11254-d665408.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Mental Health in Prison: Integrating the Perspectives of Prison Staff

Author

Listed:
  • Ines Testoni

    (Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
    Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa 31905, Israel)

  • Irene Nencioni

    (Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy)

  • Maibrit Arbien

    (Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy)

  • Erika Iacona

    (Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy)

  • Francesca Marrella

    (Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy)

  • Vittoria Gorzegno

    (Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy)

  • Cristina Selmi

    (Local Office of External Criminal Execution, 35100 Padova, Italy
    Local Office of External Criminal Execution, 45100 Rovigo, Italy)

  • Francesca Vianello

    (Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy)

  • Alfonso Nava

    (Due Palazzi Prison of Padova, Via Due Palazzi, 25/a, 35136 Padova, Italy)

  • Adriano Zamperini

    (Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy)

  • Michael Alexander Wieser

    (Department of Psychology, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt, 9020 Klagenfurt, Austria)

Abstract

(1) Background: The Italian Constitutional Court’s decision n. 99/2019 abolished the distinction between physical and psychological health care in the Italian prison system. However, this and other changes to the penitentiary system present challenges to prison staff, which may vary based on their roles and backgrounds; (2) Purpose: To create a process of dialogue and collaboration that include different points of view, needs, and proposals regarding mental health in prisons, this study collects and integrates the perspectives of 91 prison staff who work in various capacities in eight prisons in northeast Italy. (3) Methods: Each participant was involved in either a focus group or a semi-structured interview, and thematic analysis was used to process the resulting transcripts; (3) Results: Through this process, 10 themes were derived that highlight the difficulties of working with prisoners with psychiatric disorders or psychological distress, including lack of human and economic resources, lack of positive communication between prisoners and society and a sense of professional incompetency; (4) Conclusions: Based on these themes, the need for increased points of view, dialogue, and collaboration between prison professionals and between prison and society is discussed, and the current feasibility of treating psychiatric disorders in prison is considered.

Suggested Citation

  • Ines Testoni & Irene Nencioni & Maibrit Arbien & Erika Iacona & Francesca Marrella & Vittoria Gorzegno & Cristina Selmi & Francesca Vianello & Alfonso Nava & Adriano Zamperini & Michael Alexander Wies, 2021. "Mental Health in Prison: Integrating the Perspectives of Prison Staff," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-14, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:21:p:11254-:d:665408
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/21/11254/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/21/11254/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ines Testoni & Irene Nencioni & Lucia Ronconi & Francesca Alemanno & Adriano Zamperini, 2020. "Burnout, Reasons for Living and Dehumanisation among Italian Penitentiary Police Officers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-12, April.
    2. Giulia D’Aurizio & Angelica Caldarola & Marianna Ninniri & Marialucia Avvantaggiato & Giuseppe Curcio, 2020. "Sleep Quality and Psychological Status in a Group of Italian Prisoners," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-10, June.
    3. Gatherer, A. & Moller, L. & Hayton, P., 2005. "The World Health Organization European health in prisons project after 10 years: Persistent barriers and achievements," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 95(10), pages 1696-1700.
    4. Cornwall, Andrea & Jewkes, Rachel, 1995. "What is participatory research?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 41(12), pages 1667-1676, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Caroline Patsias & Anne Latendresse & Laurence Bherer, 2013. "Participatory Democracy, Decentralization and Local Governance: the Montreal Participatory Budget in the light of ‘Empowered Participatory Governance’," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(6), pages 2214-2230, November.
    2. Lauren Arundell & Kate Parker & Jo Salmon & Jenny Veitch & Anna Timperio, 2019. "Informing Behaviour Change: What Sedentary Behaviours Do Families Perform at Home and How Can They Be Targeted?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-12, November.
    3. Mike Kesby, 2007. "Spatialising Participatory Approaches: The Contribution of Geography to a Mature Debate," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 39(12), pages 2813-2831, December.
    4. Roland Bardy & Stephen Drew & Tumenta Kennedy, 2012. "Foreign Investment and Ethics: How to Contribute to Social Responsibility by Doing Business in Less-Developed Countries," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 106(3), pages 267-282, March.
    5. Rosemarie Wieske & Marianne Nijnuis & Bettie Carmiggelt & Margreet Wagenaar-Fischer & Magda Boere-Boonekamp, 2012. "Preventive youth health care in 11 European countries: an exploratory analysis," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 57(3), pages 637-641, June.
    6. Zemadim, B. & McCartney, Matthew & Langan, Simon & Sharma, Bharat, 2013. "A participatory approach for hydrometeorological monitoring in the Blue Nile River Basin of Ethiopia," IWMI Reports 201009, International Water Management Institute.
    7. Katerina Maximova & Nancy Hanusaik & Natalie Kishchuk & Gilles Paradis & Jennifer L. O’Loughlin, 2016. "Public health strategies promoting physical activity and healthy eating in Canada: are we changing paradigms?," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 61(5), pages 565-572, June.
    8. Lisa M. Vaughn & MaryAnn Lohmueller, 2014. "Calling All Stakeholders," Evaluation Review, , vol. 38(4), pages 336-355, August.
    9. Ana Luiza Fontenelle & Erik Nilsson & Ieda Geriberto Hidalgo & Cintia B. Uvo & Drielli Peyerl, 2022. "Temporal Understanding of the Water–Energy Nexus: A Literature Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-21, April.
    10. Azad, Md Javed & Pritchard, Bill, 2022. "Financial capital as a shaper of households' adaptive capabilities to flood risk in northern Bangladesh," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    11. Ebitu, Larmbert & Avery, Helen & Mourad, Khaldoon A. & Enyetu, Joshua, 2021. "Citizen science for sustainable agriculture – A systematic literature review," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    12. San Sebastián, Miguel & Hurtig, Anna Karin, 2005. "Oil development and health in the Amazon basin of Ecuador: the popular epidemiology process," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(4), pages 799-807, February.
    13. So Pyay Thar & Thiagarajah Ramilan & Robert J. Farquharson & Deli Chen, 2021. "Identifying Potential for Decision Support Tools through Farm Systems Typology Analysis Coupled with Participatory Research: A Case for Smallholder Farmers in Myanmar," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-20, June.
    14. Maimoona Aboobakur & Ali Latheef & Ahmed Mohamed & Sheena Moosa & Ravindra Pandey & Anand Krishnan & Dorairaj Prabhakaran, 2010. "Surveillance for non-communicable disease risk factors in Maldives: results from the first STEPS survey in Male," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 55(5), pages 489-496, October.
    15. Theresia Krieger & Sandra Salm & Antje Dresen & Anna Arning & Kathrin Schwickerath & Andrea Göttel & Stefanie Houwaart & Holger Pfaff & Natalia Cecon, 2022. "Optimizing Patient Information Material for a New Psycho-Oncological Care Program Using a Participatory Health Research Approach in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-17, January.
    16. Fei Yu, 2011. "Indoor Air Pollution and Children’s Health: Net Benefits from Stove and Behavioral Interventions in Rural China," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 50(4), pages 495-514, December.
    17. Jacob D. Tafrate & Kelsey E. Nyland & Robert W. Orttung, 2024. "Constituents over Correlation: Indicators and Arctic Urban Decision-Making," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-21, October.
    18. Bessell, Sharon, 2019. "Money matters…but so do people: Children's views and experiences of living in a ‘disadvantaged’ community," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 59-66.
    19. Bilal Avan & Syed Raza & Betty Kirkwood, 2014. "A community-based study of early childhood sensory stimulation in home environment associated with growth and psychomotor development in Pakistan," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 59(5), pages 779-788, October.
    20. Sollis, Kate & Yap, Mandy & Campbell, Paul & Biddle, Nicholas, 2022. "Conceptualisations of wellbeing and quality of life: A systematic review of participatory studies," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:21:p:11254-:d:665408. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.