Mental Health in Prison: Integrating the Perspectives of Prison Staff

Ines Testoni, Irene Nencioni, Maibrit Arbien, Erika Iacona, Francesca Marrella, Vittoria Gorzegno, Cristina Selmi, Francesca Vianello, Alfonso Nava, Adriano Zamperini and Michael Alexander Wieser
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Ines Testoni: Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
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
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

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-14

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.

Keywords: prison staff; detainees; healthcare; human rights; qualitative analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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