Mental Health First Aid for Public Safety Training

Closure of state hospitals and the shrinking of mental health resources in many communities began in the 1970s. There is now a large and disproportionate number of seriously mentally ill individuals under correctional custody and supervision. Researchers report that of those incarcerated by U.S. correctional agencies, it is estimated that approximately 14% in federal prisons, 20% in local jails, [DL1] and 34% in state prisons have mental health problems. [DL2] Also, additional research states that approximately 14% of individuals in state and federal prisons and 26% in jails experience serious psychological distress. The magnitude of the problem of untreated mental illness is revealed not only in the numbers, but also in the consequences. Individuals with mental illness who are incarcerated are more likely to experience difficulty adjusting to incarceration and commit more infractions than those without mental illness. Infractions for these individuals may lead to physical restraint and restrictive housing, which may increase anxiety, anger, depression, cognitive disturbances, perceptual disturbances, paranoia, and psychosis. This increase in infractions often contributes to longer lengths of stay, which may include a lessened likelihood of earning early release, parole, or probation and serving an average of 12 months longer than incarcerated persons without mental illness. Existing research suggests that mental health training may benefit correctional staff by helping them to reduce stress and reduce the distress that incarcerated individuals with mental illness may experience. In turn, these individuals may experience reductions in infractions and other punitive measures. Mental health training can potentially result in increases in the safety of both incarcerated individuals with mental illness and correctional staff. [DL1]The first part of your sentence does not mention local correctional agencies. Did you mean to include them here? If so, please add the explanation for including jails Is this stat about people in jails because of overcrowding in the prisons? [DL2]Unclear. Is this what you mean?
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