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The provision of mental health care and services in Young Offender Institutions
- Author:
- ALMOND Tracy
- Journal article citation:
- Practice: Social Work in Action, 24(3), 2012, pp.189-200.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Young offenders are many times more likely to have a mental health problem than other young people. This article considers issues relating to young male offenders with mental health problems serving sentences in Young Offenders Institutions (YOIs). YOIs hold young offenders aged 15–21 years old, although those under 18 years of age tend to be housed in different buildings from those over 18 years. The focus of this article relates largely to 15–18 year olds. The article explores the extent and quality of mental health care and services in YOIs. It argues that, despite legislation and government policy to safeguard welfare, services do not meet the complex needs of this group of vulnerable young people. The high prevalence of mental health problems amongst incarcerated youth is not reflected in the provision of mental health services in custody. Problems associated with multi-agency collaboration, assessment, treatment and social stigma are explored. The article questions the suitability of criminal incarceration and considers less stigmatising provision to meet the standards of ‘Every Child Matters’.