Submission ID 78167
| Code | OC-4-6 |
|---|---|
| At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to: | |
| Category | Medical Education |
| Type | Oral |
| Will the presenter be a: | Other |
| Presenter Other | Mid career faculty |
| Title | Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Inmates Through Education for Correctional Officers |
| Background/Purpose | Globally, there has been an increase in rate of incarceration of individuals with mental disorder. Front-line officers play a central role in dealing with mental health struggles of inmates. Nonetheless, training officers receive is often considered inadequate. |
| Methods | A needs assessment was undertaken and a course delivered to officers at Tonto South Detention Centre (TSDC), Vanier Centre for Women (VCW), and adapted to an online format at Edmonton Institute for Women (EIFW). Curriculum included mental health awareness; risk assessment; communicating with inmates; self-care/resilience. Simulations provided the opportunity for participants to identify mental illness, assess risk, and de-escalate situations. Participants' ability to assist individuals was established using pre-post-measures. Satisfaction surveys, three-month follow-up, focus groups at nine months showed impact of training. |
| Results | Results were promising, 92% of participants at TSDC, 88% at VCW and 82% at EIFW expressed satisfaction and 62% at TSDC, 68% at VCW, and 61% at EIFW intended to change practices. Analyses of change in knowledge and confidence scores showed statistically significant improvement in all measures. Three-month follow-up at TSDC showed 75% applied training to a "moderate or great extent". Focus groups showed improved ability to identify inmate struggles. |
| Discussion | This study shows training that is interactive, provides opportunity for skills practice, and informed by needs, can have sustained impact on practice, improve attitudes toward inmates presenting with mental health issues, and help empower officers to better meet the mental health needs of inmates. System and culture change however is needed to support maintenance of gains. |
| Keyword 1 | continuing professional development |
| Keyword 2 | correctional officers |
| Keyword 3 | mental health training |
| Abstract content most relevant to: (check all that apply) | Continuing Professional Development (CPD) (faculty development, CME) |
| Abstract Track - First Choice | Curriculum |
| Curriculum | Case-Based Evaluation Inter-Professional |
| Authors | Shaheen Darani Shaheen Darani Kiran Patel Laura Hayos Tanya Connors Faisal Islam Anika Saiva Fabienne Hargreaves Rachel Antinucci Stephanie Sliekers Sandy Simpson |
