Set 1.edited

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School

Kenyatta University *

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100

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Nursing

Date

Nov 24, 2024

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docx

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Uploaded by mollasammy15

2.0 Introduction The mental health of prisoners is centered on efforts to improve their well-being, capacity to manage conflict and develop strong relationships in correctional facilities. The harsh living conditions inside the prison are likely to increase the mental exhaustion that one feels and can be a barrier to new challenges for people. The importance of mental health has been recognized among European inmates, highlighting psychiatric disorders among teenagers (World Health Organization, 2023). According to Maruschak et al. (2021), many inmates in the USA undergo severe psychological distress in the preceding month. The differences in mental health care, health-related policies, and other similar factors show differences in how each society handles such cases. There is an increase in mental health issues among inmates, leading to anxiety and an increased chance of violent events, primarily because of overcrowding in prison, according to the Penal Reform International (2023). Some feelings like stress, depression, and loneliness can also be faced due to physically and socially isolating oneself (Caporuscio, 2020). A large number of Jails do not have many of the required psychotherapy equipment, causing a lack of treatment options and stigma. It is essential to understand the issues of mental health present in prisons in order to devise better interventions and policies to improve the well-being of these individuals. The exploration focuses on how several factors, including inmate-warden relationships, workloads, and physical environment, impact mental health in prisons. It highlights the frameworks that can bring about positive changes within the community. 2.1 Physical Environment and Mental Health The mental health of prisoners is closely tied to the jail lifestyle, including the physical environment, because it is opposite to the lifestyle that they lead outside the jail. According to Edgemon and Clay-Warner (2018), inmates' mental health is highly affected because of high-

stress levels caused by a large number of inmates in smaller spaces. It is not just the limited space that gets affected when there is overcrowding; it undermines the mental peace of everyone and promotes high levels of stress and anxiety. Through shared and congested living spaces, cramped prisons create stress and tension. Due to limited personal space, inmates cannot live together (UNODC, 2013) . It increases their conflicts and adds to the prison's overall hardship. The increased interaction among prisoners often becomes the cause of increased frustration and aggression. The confinement environment paves the path for heightened anxiety levels resulting from frequent conflicts in the shared spaces and indoor premises. When people live in crowded places, it creates a lot of stress and anxiety because they do not have any personal or private space. The people confined in small spaces will find it hard to fight the tension caused between them and will find it hard to navigate daily life. This higher level of tension can be observed among all the prison functions and within routines, which can cause a poor prison life. The minimal personal space within the prison grates the prisoners and is a significant factor in their feelings. According to Canada et al. (2022), there is a strong relationship between higher stress and anxiety levels and decreased mental well-being with not having their own solitary space to retreat to. Getting imprisoned means a person needs to give up some of their rights and will not have freedom over some things. The desolation of privacy standards makes the challenges more aggressive, and the toll of being isolated is more psychologically damaging (UNODC, 2013) . Living in small areas is unadvisable for physical health, creating emotional challenges because there is no personal space that an average human needs. Canada et al. (2022) discuss how data privacy breaches can significantly impact inmates' mental health. Because prisoners do not have private spaces, they become more stressed, which

ultimately leads them to mental health issues. The enclosed environment and frequent interference within limited personal space instigate distress, impeding the general well-being of inmates. The violation of privacy has a significant impact on the emotional health of the prisoners and causes long-lasting mental instabilities even after being released. High stress developed by this deficit can lead to increased problems within the prison, further leading to mental disturbances. Privacy is essential for individuals' mental stability and peace of mind, and it plays a crucial role in providing a structured routine within the correctional facility (Reingle Gonzalez & Connell, 2014) . In order to make the correctional system amicable for inmates, there need to be spaces that respect and uphold their autonomy; however limited it might be, the effort has to be put into creating a physical environment that promotes this personal autonomy. According to Widra (2020), prison violence resulting from sharing common spaces has a long-term adverse effect on the mental health of the incarcerated. The violence can be of various types like hitting, knife attacks, not providing medical attention, and punishment of the victims if they dare raise the issues. The violence, in turn, causes a different level of tension in the person going through it. Prisons are places that are dominated by violence and where people are constantly stressed. This can cause deteriorating mental health symptoms in the long term and increased fear and stress levels for inmates to deal with (Edgar & Martin, 2002) . People who are already feeling stressed because of the present situation find it more challenging to deal with situations when there is physical or emotional abuse. Widra (2020) stressed that prison violence has long-term consequences where the victim is going to get some harmful effects. If the victim is getting physically hurt, there are going to be some effects on his mental health as well. Accidents such as beating or stabbing heavily impact a person's mindset and are never forgotten. Due to poorly constructed or unavailable healthcare

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facilities, the fear of violence remains high among everyone since they cannot get reliable medical attention and is thus responsible for causing stress and anxiety. Violence within prison is a big hurdle that needs to be overcome by staff for the sake of the better well-being of the system. Some practical measures that focus on the psychological needs of the prisoners need to be adopted to minimize the rate of violence in prison (Edgar & Martin, 2002) . Policymakers can prioritize the safe environment and mental health of the people within the correctional system by admitting the impact of violence and acting to lessen it. Stress among prisoners can also be increased by factors such as a large number of people, lack of privacy, and not good enough bedroom furniture. These barriers exacerbate stress and make the individual feel locked in and cut off from the rest of the world (APT, 2015) . There is a need to establish the intricate relationship between these factors, allowing interventions to enhance life conditions. This will provide a platform to the incarcerated people who are in these environments to facilitate mental health improvement, tactility, morale, and support. The correctional facilities need to have adequate physical resources that can provide mental relaxation for the inmates because this can significantly affect their mental state. In correctional facilities, it is essential to have some places for outdoor activities as they can play an important role in rehabilitating prisoners and enhancing their mental well-being (Reingle Gonzalez & Connell, 2014) . These confinements typically have strict timetables and less freedom for personal choices. Prison facilities are critical in providing a break from prison life. Certain places tend to improve mental and physical health by providing a platform for engaging in leisure activities, being the cause of improving mood (Reingle Gonzalez & Connell, 2014) . Incarceration centers' outdoors are equally crucial for the mental well-being of the prisoners. Hanging out in a natural

environment with many trees, fresh air, and sunlight, you will experience a better overall mood and well-being. Spending time outside gives mental satisfaction to the prisoners, and they feel free from prison for some time (Morris & Izenberg, 2023) . It is essential to prioritize their mental health needs and provide extra relaxation activities to improve their skills. The prison's influence on mental health and its conditions must be understood well to make impactful and lasting changes. 2.2 Policies Inmate Mental Health Correctional facility policies can either contribute to positive mental health outcomes or worsen existing issues (Edgemon & Clay-Warner, 2018). The use of mandatory solitary confinement has drawn significant attention due to its impact on mental health. Research, including a study by Caporuscio (2020), consistently shows that prolonged isolation leads to severe psychological distress. Inmates experience anxiety, depression, and even hallucinations. Bureau of Justice Statistics (2015) reports an increase in mental health referrals following the implementation of mandatory solitary confinement, with higher rates of self-harm and psychiatric symptoms. A significant portion of incarcerated individuals in Washington experienced considerable distress while in solitary confinement, at a rate of 20% or higher (Reiter et al., 2020). Policies granting inmates access to educational programs have positive effects on mental health. Inmates enrolled in educational initiatives experience lower stress levels and a greater sense of purpose (Northwestern University, 2023). Learning opportunities provide constructive use of time and create a more positive and stimulating prison environment. Restrictive visitation policies negatively impact inmate mental health. A study by Tasca (2015) reveals that limited visitation rights led to increased feelings of loneliness and isolation, causing elevated stress levels. Inmates' visitation experiences are influenced by the identity of the

visitor, with visits from mothers consistently being perceived more negatively, indicating that visitation can serve as a means for mothers to confront and resolve grievances and conflicts with inmates through an uncomfortable process ( Turanovic & Tasca, 2019) . On the other hand, correctional lenient visitation policies observe improved mental health indicators among inmates ( Stringer, 2019) . Recognizing the impact of these policies is essential for evidence-based reforms that prioritize inmate mental health and foster a rehabilitative and compassionate prison environment. Certain recreational days and outings must be incorporated within the prison environment to facilitate the well-being and mental stability of the inmates. During stressful times, outings help as an escapade and contribute significantly by promoting a sense of well-being and providing a mental break (Morris & Izenberg, 2023) . Visiting residents can be important for mental health in several ways. Secondly, it allows inmates to take a break from their routine and provides them with fresh air and some room to breathe apart from their cells. The environment within the prison is vastly different from the world outside, with its many natural elements and bustling sights and sounds ( Tasca, 2015). This provides a way to keep the mind at peace and help take a break from the monotonic routine they get. It develops a mindset of being strong toward the world outside, where people are not trapped within bars. Moreover, going out of jail allows inmates to experience new activities and situations that are not common behind bars. To let prisoners learn how to overcome the monotonous routine that has them trapped and also to teach them how to be all right in their own space, It is essential to indulge in out-of-the-box thinking and evolve emotional spheres by appreciating the beauty of surroundings and mingling with different people (Morris & Izenberg, 2023) . Different experiences have the power to transform, and so this is one of the best ways to improve coping potential in

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stressful situations. Outings provide a way to look at things other than their past. People held in custody for an unspecified crime are likely to be kept motivated if they have a broader perspective to focus on, which will give them hope and a sense of purpose. Programs provided by correctional facilities are also significant for inmates in leading a meaningful and productive life away from their daily routines. They promote positive mental health and recognize that inmates are humans who should equally play essential roles in their free time to enhance their health outcomes. These policies are essential to increase positive engagement and introduce a daily routine among the inmates. Prison life can be overwhelming; having recreational activities such as watching movies and playing football, among other activities, provides a necessary breather and balance. That is intended to provide a meaningful, more relaxed, and natural atmosphere, focusing on engaging inmates in sporting and additional programs (UNODC, 2018) . Recreational features in prisons are vital to revitalize the mood and good mental health. It has been proven that participating in sports, cultural events, and educational activities can help inmates fight stress and become stronger emotionally. Hobbies and activities such as sports and arts are essential in creating a pathway through which individuals can vent and express their bottled-up emotions and impasses (Kraus, 2020) . Policies must be thoughtful and flexible for any shift to a recreational activity. One common point is integrating a proper sports system within places for corrective measures. Through sports and physical benefits, there can be better emotional advantages as people learn to deal with the stress and anxiety of competition. Recreational activities are the best tools for the overall rehabilitation exercises, shaping how inmates are and enhancing mental health and well-being within correctional environments.

Measures being taken in order to control inmates are highly influenced by correctional policies. It is essential to find a way that allows people to sustain a specific level of order while also keeping their well-being in check. Strict actions taken with equality impact the inmates' behaviors and change how they think. When specific protocols are followed in a correctional facility, it can lead to a more structural environment combating detainees' needs. According to OGP GLOBAL REPORT (2020), prisoners will respect the decision, and there will be a sense of rightfulness when they think the discipline board is fair and just. The resentment becomes lower as the sense of justice acts as a barrier, resulting in better mental health. However, equally dealing with every situation creates motivation and trust within the social framework. This motivation becomes a source of driving themselves efficiently. In stressful situations commonly found in jails, a clear and transparent communication process can reduce stress (UNODC, 2013) . It is essential to focus on creating better quality relationships with the kids from hard places, and this can only be made possible if the strategy is based on solid ideals of openness, justice, and equity.

Set 1.edited

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