NCJ Number
212403
Journal
Let's Talk Volume: 30 Issue: 2 Dated: October 2005 Pages: 4-7
Date Published
October 2005
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes the services offered by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) to the increasing number of inmates with mental disorders.
Abstract
Over the past 7 years, there has been an 80-percent increase in the number of inmates on prescribed medication for a mental health problem at the time they enter CSC facilities. There has also been a 61-percent increase over the same period in the number of inmates who report having a psychiatric diagnosis upon admission. Each region has a treatment center that serves the most seriously mentally disordered offender. For the Acute Care Unit of the Ontario Regional Treatment Center (RTC), stabilization is the first step. Medication is the cornerstone of treatment, since the right combination of drugs helps to stabilize inmates by relieving symptoms. Once stabilized, a patient is moved from the acute care unit to another unit, where he can interact with inmates and staff and deal with issues that are part of his correctional plan. Medical staff at another RTC launched a pilot project for identifying mental illness in its early stages. Psychiatric nurses conduct a comprehensive screening of all new inmates, and those identified with mental health needs are given treatment plans with immediate psychiatric care as a top priority. Another example of mental health services for inmates is the Intensive Healing Program at the Churchill Women's Unit of the CSC Regional Psychiatric Center. Its goal is to improve the mental health of women offenders, often through the use of short-term behavioral agreements and monitored behavioral checklists. Also, over the years, RTCs have expanded their roles to arrange interdisciplinary community supports for inmates about to be released into the community.