Women in the prison system often have complex mental health problems, frequently alongside long-term physical conditions, with women from racial minority backgrounds worst affected.
Research led by Professor Tammi Walker, from our Department of Psychology, working with colleagues at Keele University, has shown how aspects of the prison environment can present challenges when addressing these health needs of women.
For example, the very limited time spent out of cells, operational pressure on staff resources, and periods of restricted movement all mean that healthcare appointments get squeezed out. These findings point to opportunities for strengthening how healthcare is delivered within existing systems.
The team recently discussed their findings at an event at the House of Lords, hosted by Baroness Sarah Hyde.
A key strength of the research was the meaningful involvement of women with lived experience. The research explored how primary care services for imprisoned women can be improved and how to improve the ways the women can be involved in co-designing research and services.
What’s been most important is doing this research alongside women with lived experience to make sure their voices genuinely shape the research.
The team interviewed women in prison who live with mental illness, and the staff supporting them, to identify the key challenges affecting their care and access to services.
Together, they developed a range of practical resources for women entering prison, a video on involving women with lived experience of prison experience in research, and a toolkit for researchers.
The next step is to find ways to better support imprisoned women with mental illness which is more individually tailored and ethnically considerate.
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