Support for Mental Health After Prison Incarceration

November 21, 2024 | By Kindbridge

The United States maintains an estimated 1.2 to 1.8 million people in federal and state prisons, making it the country with the highest incarceration rate in the entire world. Why this is the case is massive mental health topic in itself. However, today’s feature is on mental health after prison incarceration. After all, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reports that 600,000 prisoners are released each year. Despite a large number of releases, the U.S. prison system maintains an unfortunately large population not just because of new criminal offenders entering the system, but because a significant amount reoffend and are “reactivated” as a part of the prison population. The DOJ indicates that more than two-thirds of those released from are rearrested within three years. Meanwhile, 82% of people released from state prisons are rearrested at least once within 10 years.

While there are a number of contributing factors to this viscous cycle, the fact that individuals are returned to society with compromised mental health is a big part of the problem. Some had issues prior to their first arrest (which may be correlated to their initial criminal activity) while most others are released with excess baggage. Research from the American Psychological Association (APA) finds that 64% of jail inmates, 54% of state prisoners, and 45% of federal prisoners struggle with their mental health. How are any of them to return to “normal life” rehabilitated and able to put their best foot forward as a contributing member of society?

While many jurisdictions are increasingly providing mental health services to prisoners after release, the demand outpaces supply. Further, there are barriers to reentry, such as geographic access, working around parole, and finding the time given that a return to work and family life (as applicable) becomes a priority. In addition, state provided mental health services are typically from general clinicians and not those who specialize in the trauma that someone who has been incarcerated has gone through. For any one (or all) of these reasons it is important for those reentering society, after any amount of time in prison, to supplement state-provided service (if any) with customized support from Kindbridge Behavioral Health. Please keep reading.

How Kindbridge is Uniquely Qualified to Supplement Mental Health Support After Prison Incarceration

Specializing in Mental Health Issues Fostered in Prison

Those released from prison attempt to reenter society with a variety of mental health issues. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an unsurprising after-effect, considering what some prisoners personally experience and witness during incarceration. On the other hand, post-incarceration syndrome (PICS) is the most often cited concern that encompasses a large number of signs and symptoms associated with other (often cooccurring) mental health concerns. Depression, anxiety, social phobia, antisocial behavior, and suicidal thoughts are all prevalent in those with PICS. Despite this cooccurrence, it’s important to provide an accounting of each specific mental health issue commonly carried into life after prison. Approximate rates for each are detailed below:

Post-incarceration syndrome (PICS): 40% (source)

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Up to 27% for males and 38% for females (source)

Depression: 23% (source)

Anxiety: 21% for males and 32% for females (source)

Chronic Stress: 30% (source)

Social Phobia: 10% (source)

Suicidality: 20% (source)

Chronic Anger and Irritation: 49% (source)

While occurrence and severity certainly depends upon length and location of incarceration, there’s a lot to deal with as someone coming out of prison, no matter how you look at it. What makes Kindbridge so uniquely qualified to be of therapeutic assistance, is our renowned work with America’s active military and veteran population. Aside from PICS (although there are correlations) every one of the mental health concerns and corresponding rates listed above eerily align with members of the military who are also reentering society after serving in an operational capacity. Our counselors’ work with U.S. veterans has provided specialized insight and expertise into the mental health concerns above, more than found with most general clinicians.

Interestingly, and unfortunately, the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) reports that approximately 31% of military veterans are arrested for criminal acts at some point in their lives, compared to 18% of the general population. The CCJ also confirms that there are approximately 181,500 incarcerated military veterans in the United States, making up about 8% of the state prison population and 5% of the federal prison population. If you or your loved on lands in this particular category, there is nary a better resource to reach out to upon release than Kindbridge.

Specializing in Process Addictions from Prison

Drug and alcohol abuse are common among recently released prisoners, and most state-provided assistance programs focus on these concerns. Where there is a lag, is with respect to a number of behavioral health concerns (also referred to as process addictions) that are often picked-up in prison, although some may even have landed people in incarceration. For instance, recent research shows that the overall problem gambling prevalence among prison populations is nearly 31%, compared to 2% of the general population. Further, access to pornographic material and being removed from partners/spouses in the outside world may have rendered the recently released with a compulsion to porn consumption which can be a coping mechanism for the struggles of prison life.

Kindbridge is America’s preeminent treatment platform for process addictions such as problem gambling (view more) and hyper-sexuality disorders such as porn addiction and sex addiction. Whether these behavioral health concerns led you to criminal activity and initial imprisonment, or were adopted in incarceration, Kindbridge will help you overcome their grip.

Virtual Therapy = Accessible + Confidential Space

Kindbridge counseling is offered on a powerful virtual therapy platform. This is idyllic for those recently released from prison who may have accessibility and mobility issues. Counseling is instantly available within a tap/click of a digital device or phone call. Further, those who are reentering society are generally averse to making it known, and prefer to keep their mental health struggles between themselves, loved ones, and their counselor. Our virtual environment ensures confidentiality and as much anonymity as you desire.

Counseling for Reintegration as a Couple and/or Family

Others were sorely impacted by your incarceration. Romantic partners, spouses, children, and other family members (as applicable) were left behind when you entered the criminal justice system. While individual one-on-one therapy is extremely important to your societal reentry, couples counseling and family counseling through Kindbridge will help you and your loved ones come to terms with reintegration into their lives.