Assessment of prisoners’ mental health
Screening after reception
In this part we want to remind you of the most relevant parts of psychiatric assessment of a prisoner.
It is essential that all new prisoners are assessed for mental health status, substance abuse history and suicidal intentions. The following minimal requirements for an initial mental health evaluation are suggested [8]:
structured interview
psychiatric history
medication history
history of past self-damaging behaviour and current self-destructive behaviour
substance abuse history
history of violence
history of early trauma
history suggestive of intellectual deficits, with testing for intellectual disability if indicated
history of brain damage or disorder
evaluation of likely response to incarceration
The initial screening is usually not sufficient, due to the shock of incarceration. It should be followed by more detailed evaluation when the prisoner has become more relaxed. If there are concerns about prisoners’ mental health based on initial screening, they should be referred for further assessment by a mental health professional, or such a professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment
[8] Stein, L. and Alamo, C. (1998). Psychiatric intake screening. In Clinical Practice in Correctional Medicine (ed. M. Puisis), pp. 209/20. C.V. Mosby, St. Louis, MO.