Community Mental Health Service Use and Recidivism in Ex-prisoners with a Mental Health Disorder

• In Event: Health Matters and Prisoner Reentry

Abstract

The prevalence of mental disorders is high in prison populations and there is mixed evidence of an association between mental disorder and recidivism. Few studies have explored the potential protective effects of mental health treatment after release from custody on recidivism. In a cohort of 1,318 adults released from prison in Queensland, Australia we examined the association between mental disorder and reincarceration and, among those with evidence of mental disorder at release, examined the association between contact with community mental health services and reincarceration. Contact with mental health services and reincarceration were ascertained through prospective data linkage. Those taking at least one central nervous system medication at release (based on audit of prison medical records) had an increased risk of reincarceration (HR=1.27, 95%CI 1.04-1.54) over a median of 621 days of follow-up. Among these (n=370), 229 (62%) had at least one contact with community mental health services between release from prison and either reincarceration or censoring, and this contact reduced the hazard of reincarceration by nearly half (HR=0.52, 95%CI 0.38-0.71). The presentation will conclude with a discussion of the re-entry needs of prisoners with a mental disorder, with a particular focus on the role of community mental health services.

Authors

• Matthew J. Spittal, University of Melbourne

• Stuart A. Kinner, University of Melbourne

• Emma Thomas, University of Melbourne

• Edward B. Heffernan, Queensland Forensic Mental Health Service

• Faye Taxman, George Mason University