Mentally ill individuals are more frequently imprisoned than provided necessary aid and treatment
In the United States, a significant number of individuals with severe mental health issues like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder find themselves behind bars, often due to untreated illnesses playing a primary role in their incarceration. This is a stark reality that has sparked a call for change in the way the justice system and mental health services interact.
One organisation at the forefront of this change is Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. They offer case management and long-term psychiatric treatment for inmates and those released from the justice system. Their services extend beyond medical care, helping patients apply for appropriate housing, such as single occupancy rooms or group homes.
Kianna Richardson, a correctional support specialist with Catholic Charities, works with clients who have arrest records, most of whom are non-violent offenders. However, the challenge is vast, with drug abuse being another significant hurdle among this population. Substance abuse not only worsens mental illness but also makes it harder for patients to adhere to prescribed medication if they have no stable home.
The decline in state hospital beds for the severely mentally ill over the years is another concerning factor. From 337 per 100,000 persons in 1955, the number fell dramatically to only 11.7 per 100,000 in 2016. This shortage of facilities has led to a situation where there is a shortage of mental health professionals in half of the counties in America, according to Doris A. Fuller of the Treatment Advocacy Center.
The justice system, unfortunately, does little to help existing cases of mental illness and often exacerbates them. In the U.S., an estimated 40 percent of those with severe mental illness are incarcerated at some point in their lives. Shockingly, some 90,000 people in prison have been deemed 'incompetent to stand trial.'
Efforts are being made to address this issue. In Florida, for example, if two inmates are diverted from the waiting system at state hospitals, the average bed wait drops from 12 days to 3 days. Similarly, in Wisconsin, if eight beds were added to the state hospitals, the average waits for a bed would fall from two months to two weeks.
Leifman, a prominent advocate for change, insists that improving the community mental health system is key to improving public safety. Mentally ill inmates, upon release from jails and state hospitals, are at high risk of recidivism if not properly treated in their communities. Housing and employment are the biggest challenges for this population, with untreated mental health problems and an arrest record significantly lowering their chances.
The Treatment Advocacy Center, in collaboration with the American Enterprise Institute, discussed the American criminal justice system and the U.S. mental health crisis in 2017. Their aim was to reduce the number of incarcerated individuals with mental illnesses, publishing the report 'Emptying the 'New Asylums.'
The high cost of living in cities like Washington, D.C., poses a unique challenge to the city's homeless population. In Charles County, Md., the temporary shelter stays open only during the winter months, leaving the homeless with no options from April through September.
The mentally ill are 10 times more likely to be incarcerated than hospitalized. With almost 400,000 inmates in the U.S. prison system estimated to be mentally ill, it is clear that a comprehensive and compassionate approach is needed to address this crisis.
