Kevin

If you can’t see the light, brother, I will sit with you in the dark

Tony

If I can help someone who’s going through what I went through, I want to help

Ron

We need to keep an eye on each other

Randall

It’s natural to have strong responses to trauma

John

I believe in the human potential to grow and change

Maine Department of Corrections

McLean Hospital and its Deconstructing Stigma team have forged a partnership with the Maine Department of Corrections (MEDOC) to address mental health stigma concerns among the offender population and the correctional staff.

Prison systems across the United States are often on the front lines of delivering mental health care. With approximately 35% of incarcerated men and women in local jails and state prisons estimated to have a serious mental illness—equaling approximately 383,000 individuals nationwide—correctional officers play a critical role in delivering care to inmates. They are often the first to identify mental health concerns and respond to health problems.

While prison staff work to ensure inmates receive the mental health care they need, corrections officers—like many first responders—are hesitant to seek care for themselves. The mental health crisis among prison workers is a silent epidemic, with more than 19% suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and the risk of suicide being 39% higher for corrections officers than for all other professions combined.

MEDOC and McLean Hospital, which has a long-standing commitment to improving the lives of individuals affected by psychiatric disorders, are partnering to address the needs of inmates and prison staff. Through this Deconstructing Stigma collaboration we are building greater awareness of psychiatric disorders and compassion for individuals with mental illness, while delivering high-quality education and training.

Men’s Prison – Warren, Maine

A recent study found that prison employees have a rate of PTSD roughly equivalent to war veterans who have served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. While the rate of PTSD, alcoholism, and depression is alarmingly high among corrections officers and prison staff, few seek out mental health services before a crisis occurs. The Maine State Prison (MSP), which houses male inmates, and we are seeking to address this issue and in the fall of 2018, launched an initiative focused on developing an awareness campaign and curriculum designed to reduce mental health stigma among corrections officers. As part of this work, we have expanded the Deconstructing Stigma campaign to include compelling stories of MSP staff—including Warden Randall Liberty, who openly discusses his own struggle with PTSD, trainings for prison staff with McLean Hospital mental health clinicians from our LEADER program, the development of toolkits, and access to local and regional mental health resources. In addition, McLean has recorded several gripping podcasts live from the prison.

Facts About Prison Staff Mental Health

There are 434,870 correctional officers in the United States, and in a recent study, 19% of those surveyed reported symptoms that were severe enough to be diagnosed as PTSD
Prison staff have the highest rates of mental illness, sleep disorders, and physical health issues of all US workers
Approximately a quarter of prison employees routinely experience serious threats to themselves or their families
Almost half of prison employees have witnessed co-workers being seriously injured by inmates, and more than half have witnessed an inmate dying or encountered an inmate who recently died, and the vast majority have dealt with inmates who have been recently beaten and/or sexually assaulted
Reported depression rates were significantly higher among corrections officers than in the general population
The risk of suicide is 39% higher for corrections officers than all other professions combined

Women’s Prison – Windham, Maine

Nearly 90% of the women incarcerated in the Maine Correctional Center: Women’s Center have experienced trauma, including physical, sexual, and verbal abuse. As a result, these women have lived their lives struggling with untreated depression, anxiety, substance use, eating disorders, and issues related to LGBTQ mental health. Through our collaboration with the prison staff, we are bringing the stories of hope and resiliency found in its Deconstructing Stigma campaign to the prison. By sharing these stories on the prison walls and in electronic form, in combination with educational outreach programming, we are working toward improving the conversation around mental health and encouraging inmates to seek treatment that will have a positive and lasting impact on their lives.

Facts About Prisoner Mental Health

1.2 million individuals living with mental illness sit in jail and prison each year
6 out of 10 of the states with the least access to mental health care also have the highest rates of incarceration
The most common illnesses were major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia and psychotic disorders
20% of males and 25% of females have severe psychiatric symptoms
Nearly a quarter of inmates who had a mental health problem, compared to a fifth of those without, had served three or more prior incarcerations
Data suggests that as many as 80% of incarcerated women meet the criteria for at least one lifetime psychiatric disorder
12% of women in the general population have symptoms of a psychiatric disorder, compared to 73% of females in state prison, 61% in federal prison, and 75% in local jails

Many organizations throughout Maine offer support and services to individuals and families in need. Find Maine -specific resources.