Half of Prisoners Suffer from Mental Illnesses

PHILADELPHIA — New figures released today by the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics indicate that more than half of all prison and jail inmates – including 56 percent of state prisoners, 45 percent of federal prisoners, and 64 percent of local jail inmates – have a mental health problem.

The Prison to Community Project of the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania (MHASP) is working to reverse these statistics by helping individuals with mental illnesses stay out of prison and live successfully in their communities.

The Prison to Community Project was launched by MHASP in summer 2004 with funding from the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Mental Retardation Services (DBH/MRS). It was a response to the many people with mental illnesses released from prison without services, medications or discharge planning – which often results in a high rate of recidivism.

The project works with individuals with serious mental illnesses and co- occurring substance abuse both before and after their release from prison. Inside the prison, peer-to-peer coordinators identify likely candidates and help them prepare for release, connecting them with Social Security, cash assistance, medication and other benefits.

Upon their release, the program’s case management team connects them with the Prison to Community Transition Center at 2221 North Broad Street, where they are given personal supplies. A transitional case manager continues to work with each participant for three months and may, for instance, help them secure housing or entry into a drug and alcohol recovery program. At the completion of the program, participants are assigned to traditional case managers.

Prison to Community also serves the existing prison population by running wellness groups, open to all inmates who have mental illnesses.

"Prison to Community has made a difference in forming a relationship and connection to people when they get out of prison," said Sandy Vasko, mental health administrator for operations at DBH/MRS. Said one former inmate, who now works for MHASP, "The program was of great assistance; I landed on my feet, with medication and income. I don’t know what I would have done without it."

Contact: Susan Rogers, MHASP, 215-751-1800, ext. 288

Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania

CONTACT: Susan Rogers of MHASP, +1-215-751-1800, ext. 288

Web site: http://www.mhasp.org/