Challenges in Identifying and Addressing Mental Health Difficulties and Neurodiversity among Men in Prison

Dear Colleagues,

What is this Special Edition about?

Male prisoners are recognised globally as having high rates of mental health difficulties and neurodiversity. Moreover, the rates of deliberate self-harm and suicide in this population are of great concern. Care and treatment needs outstrip the available therapeutic resources in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Challenges associated with the prison environment can make it difficult to provide good care, irrespective of the jurisdiction. Novel approaches for the identification and management of mental health needs can go unrecognised and there is limited sharing of good practice. The above issues are the focus of this special edition and we invite contributions from academics and other experts working in the field. We are particularly keen to present and/or to compare perspectives from different countries.

What are we looking for? 

We welcome submissions that address the complex mental health needs of the male prison population. These individuals face a unique set of challenges in terms of the practical issues relating to their restricted and deprived environment, as well as other issues that are external to the prison environment (stigma, societal understanding of criminality and mental health, the engagement of mental health services with the prison system). We are especially keen to include submissions that consider these topics from a variety or perspectives and frameworks, including articles that address the following:

- The challenges of providing effective mental health care in a prison environment, as well as challenges associated with the broader social context, both presently and in the past.

- The interactions between societal pressures and adversity, criminality, and mental health difficulties.

- Health inequality, particularly in relation to men from deprived social environments, black and other ethnic minority groups, and LGBTQI+ groups. We welcome research findings on intersectionality and health status and health care access.

- How best to help individuals with trauma within a traumatised system, and how best to conceptualise and address the impact of intergenerational trauma.

- Meeting the needs of staff required to witness and experience traumatic events, and to operate within a restrictive and, at times, coercive environment. 

What is the submission process?

Please note that the journal provides a fast turnaround of papers, with reviews provided within one month of submission. 

For this special edition we invite initial expressions of interest by the 30th November, 2022. These will be considered by the editors and responses given to prospective authors by the 1st January, 2023. The deadline for invited submissions is 30th April, 2023.

We look forward to receiving your ideas for papers.

Dr Radha Kothari, Dr Sarah Allen, Prof. Annie Bartlett and Prof. Andrew Forrester

Guest Editors