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Mental Health Promotion and Prison Health Care Staff in Young Offender Institutions in England

Lisa Bird (The Mental Health Foundation)
Paul Hayton (HM Prisons Service)
Martin Caraher (Centre for Food Policy, Wolfson Institute of Health Sciences)
Clive Tobutt (Wolfson Institute of Health Sciences)

Journal of Public Mental Health

ISSN: 1746-5729

Article publication date: 1 April 1999

85

Abstract

This paper presents the findings of an investigation into a mental health promotion initiative in young offender institutions across England. The study involved a survey of staff attitudes towards mental health promotion, and surveyed practice run by these staff. Analysis of staff descriptions of mental health promotion revealed a degree of confusion and a lack of clarity over the definition of mental health and mental health promotion. The concept of a mental health promotion initiative which aimed to improve the well‐being of the general inmate and staff population was not a shared vision and not part of the core work of either health care staff or prison officers. It is recommended that any future campaigns on mental health or health promotion should have a central lead, with some flexibility to allow for the development of local initiatives, fostering local relationships and partnerships.

Citation

Bird, L., Hayton, P., Caraher, M., McGough, H. and Tobutt, C. (1999), "Mental Health Promotion and Prison Health Care Staff in Young Offender Institutions in England", Journal of Public Mental Health, Vol. 1 No. 4, pp. 16-24. https://doi.org/10.1108/17465729199900029

Publisher

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MCB UP Ltd

Copyright © 1999, MCB UP Limited

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