The following is a letter to insidetime, from issue April 2012
Depression
There is a problem in prison that needs more attention and that problem is depression. A recent survey measuring the quality of prison life here at HMP Maidstone found that 21% of prisoners had thought about suicide. Some prisoners enter prison already suffering from depression or develop it whilst inside. Depression makes it harder to cope, interferes with communication skills, lowers performance on offending behaviour programmes, can bring on aggression and violence, can lead to drug misuse and self-harming, and, in some cases, can lead to suicide. If it is not treated whilst the person is in prison then they will leave prison with one more extra problem.
The symptoms of depression are physical as well as psychological and some people may not realise that they have it as it can develop slowly and they normally put it down to feeling tired or just being a bit under the weather.
I suggest a course should be introduced in order to help people cope with depression. Prisons already run courses for problems such as anger management, drug/alcohol misuse, relationships, decision making, sexual problems, parenting and communication, etc but nothing for depression. Many of the courses in prison are based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which is a ‘talking’ therapy and works on the way we think, feel and behave to treat problems. Extensive research has shown that CBT is very effective at treating depression and can be used alongside other treatments such as antidepressants.
I have spoken about this to various prison departments, staff and governors but I was met with lack of interest and negativity in response. Depression is treatable, so prisoners should not have to suffer in silence.
Comments about this letter
14/4/2012 big red -
I left prison after four yrs 4months and am now being treated for severe depression. I honestly think that it could have been reduced if not cured by some form of treatment while i was inside.They are good at making you do usless courses yet when you ask for help with something that you really need help with you get little or no response.
Bereavement Counselling at HMP Kirkham
Staff are ‘encouraged’ to write truthful and honest reports
Victims creating victims
Female IPP
Vocational training, not psychology
Shaman with mobile phones
Help for heroes
Judicial review help needed
IPP not ‘abolished’
Abu Qatada for England manager
Put in harm’s way
Tag for everybody!
Current page: Depression
Don’t blame us
No support for gamblers
Religious discrimination?
Two issues
The usual scapegoats
Senile judges
Housing worries
DHL Bank Holiday Pay?
No pay for bank holiday
No help out here
Now in prisons
Scottish criminal justice system lagging behind
No reply
Why is creatine banned?
False accusations & closed visits
Sarah’s law in prison?
insidetime
|
|
Issue : May 2013
Advert
Back Issues
Browse and Search Tools
View headlines by category
Search headlines | All headlines
Search mailbag | All mailbag
Search poems | All poems
May 2013 Headlines
Legal Aid: Government
consult on £220m saving plan
The Tony Shepherd Case
You’re nicked
A Guide to Representing Yourself in Court
Court in the Inaction
Legal Aid: back in the firing line
At the mercy of the Prison Service
Appeals: Who can help me? How much will it cost?
Guilty pleas and reduced sentences
Month by Month
Jonathan King writes
Typewriters in Prison
Notes from the other side of the wall
Some of us just need a second chance
Incentives and
Earned Privileges
Launch of an Alcohol and Crime Commission
From over the wall
Transformers: Robots in disguise?
Prison Widow
Recent study highlights the problems of past abuse
Fraudulent trading or bad business – where is the line drawn?
OASys - Wonder or Wall in helping or halting your progression?
Challenging Search Warrants
About Us
About insidetime
Directors
Editorial Team
InsidePoetry Book
New! Volume 4 of
insidepoetry book
is now available!
A collection of poems by prisoners of all backgrounds.
Availabe to buy from this site! Volume 1,2 and 3 are also still available and you can SAVE by purchasing bundles!
Advert
Subscribe
You can subscribe to insidetime Newspaper and get the paper each month delivered to your door!
Advertise
Advertise your business or solicitors office to a highly defined target audience.
Other Publications
Inside Time has produced a number of books and publications you can purchase online.
Contact Us
All contact info for the Operations office and the Editorial Team.
Site Map
Our site map page contains links to all pages on the insidetime site.
Advert
External Links
We have a number of external websites which you may be interested on our Links Page.
Social Networking
insideinformation
Prisons
Everything you need to know about visiting people in prison; procedures, opening times, directions etc.
Comprehensive information about each prison regime; lock down times, facilities, healthcare etc.
insideinformation Book
A comprehensive guide to prisons and prison related services, designed and compiled by former prisoners.
Advert
Help and Support
Various pages of information for help and support organisations and networks for those in custody as well as recently released. Also information for friends and family.
Grants and Funding
This grants and funding pdf document aims to meet the need of prisoners and ex-offenders for accurate, up to date information on the supplementary funding available to prisoners.
Rules and Regulations
Information on rules & regulations used throughout the prison service.
Advert
Glossary of Terms
The Glossary of Prison Related Terms explains what all the acronyms and terms stand for with prison related matters. Includes links to external sites to further explain things.
Fact Sheets
We have produced many Prison Related Fact Sheets inc. Legal Fact Sheets, Parole Fact Sheets and Other related information.
Find a Solicitor
You can search our solicitor database for listings of solicitors in your area that provide the services you require.
Find a Barrister
You can search our barrister database for listings of barristers in your area that provide the services you require.
Address Finder
You can search our address database in many ways to retrieve contact information for all those elusive addresses you need in a hurry.
Advert
Prison Law pdf
This document provides details of leading training providers who offer sound professional training.
Other Publications
Inside Information has produced a number of books and publications you can purchase online.
Site Map
Our site map page contains links to all pages on the insideinformation site.
Contact Us
Use the Contact Us Feedback form to send us suggestions, plus our address and phone numbers.
insidejustice
insidejustice was launched in July 2010 to investigate alleged miscarriages of justice.
Full introduction is on the insidejustice homepage
insidejustice Articles & Reviews
insidejustice Advisory Panel Members
insidejusticecontact details