Submission ID 78181
| Code | OG-4-2 |
|---|---|
| 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 | Mental Health Training for Correctional Officers: A Systematic Review |
| Background/Purpose | People with mental illness are overrepresented in corrections. Correctional officers often lack training to respond to inmates with mental illness. Implementing mental health training could improve officer knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward inmates with mental illness. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of mental health training programs for correctional officers to identify key factors related to success. |
| Methods | Medical and criminal justice databases were searched for scientific articles describing mental health training programs for correctional officers. All studies including a measurable outcome on either correctional officer knowledge or inmate mental health were included in a final analysis. The review adhered to PRISMA guidelines. |
| Results | Of 1492 articles identified using search terms, 11 were included in the analysis. Programs reviewed mental illness and practical skills content, and led to improvements in knowledge, skills, and attitudes amongst officers. Prior knowledge and attitudes did not correlate with improvements. Officers were more receptive to facilitators with correctional or mental health experience. Experiential teaching was preferred to didactic teaching. Regression occurred several months after training. |
| Discussion | There is limited but positive literature suggesting that structured training programs, particularly involving persons with lived experience and experiential teaching, are beneficial. The regression suggests a need for ongoing education, systems and culture change within corrections to ensure sustainable improvement. Future training programs can benefit all officers and should include relevant facilitators, experiential components, and address regression. |
| Keyword 1 | correctional officers |
| Keyword 2 | continuing professional development |
| 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 | Teaching and learning |
| Teaching and Learning | Experiential Learning Small Group |
| Authors | Shaheen Darani Elena Wolff Shaheen Darani Robert McMaster Sandy Simpson Graham Glancy Sarah Bonato Jason Quinn |
