Prevalence
What percentage of people in jails and prisons have at least one mental illness, substance use disorder (SUD), or both?
Around 70%
Name one major social cause contributing to mental illness among incarcerated men.
Poverty, racism, or poor access to healthcare
Name one factor the World Health Organization identifies as harmful to mental health in prisons.
Overcrowding, violence, isolation, lack of activity, lack of privacy, etc.
Which groups are most impacted by incarceration-related mental health issues?
Families, communities of color, public health systems
What does existing legislation fail to guarantee for prisoners with mental illness?
Adequate and voluntary mental health services
What percentage of incarcerated men have both a psychiatric and substance use disorder (dual diagnosis)?
21.9%
What percentage of incarcerated men experience PTSD compared to the general male population?
30–60% vs. 3–6%
What percentage of inmates in solitary confinement were reported to be mentally ill in Wisconsin (2010)?
Between 55% and 76%
What is one way incarceration affects families’ health or finances?
Increased mental/physical health diagnoses, economic burdens
What percentage of incarcerated individuals with SUDs receive treatment?
Only about 11%
Compared to the general population, what percentage of people in prisons/jails have a mental illness?
37–44% (vs. 18% general population)
According to Butler et al. (2020), what is the most frequent type of trauma experienced by incarcerated men?
Witnessing or being near violent deaths of family and friends
What percentage of prison inmates with psychological distress spent time in restrictive housing in the past year?
29% (prisons), 22% (jails)
What does research show about the reentry experiences of individuals with mental health issues?
Higher risk of recidivism and poor health outcomes post-release
How many prisoners with mental illness were estimated to exist in 2016?
Around 401,000 (196,000 in jails, 205,000 in prisons)
How many inmates had severe psychiatric diseases in state prisons in 2014?
About 234,200
What life stage is most associated with the beginning of trauma exposure for incarcerated men?
Adolescence
Why are mentally ill inmates more likely to end up in solitary confinement?
Behavioral management issues due to impaired thinking
According to JSTOR research, which communities are disproportionately burdened by incarceration’s health effects?
Communities of color
What is one key legislative reform proposed to improve inmate mental health?
Voluntary access to adequate services and elimination of hazardous treatment
In how many U.S. states do prisons hold more mentally ill individuals than the largest state psychiatric hospital?
44 states
Which researcher’s 2014 study found near-universal trauma exposure among male prisoners?
Wolff et al. (2014)
What percentage of U.S. adults have any mental illness vs. those in prisons and jails?
23% vs. 37–44%
How does incarceration influence broader social issues like poverty and inequality?
It deepens racial and economic disparities in health and opportunity
What is the best way to prevent mental health deterioration according to correctional studies?
Community-based alternatives and mental health/substance abuse treatment before incarceration