Аномальная и поведенческая психология

Incorporating Prison Staff Mental Health Perspectives

Abstract

Nadia Rania*

In the Italian prison system, there is a distinction between physical and psychological health care. However, this and other changes to the penal system pose challenges to prison staff, which vary depending on their roles and backgrounds. This study collects and integrates the perspectives of 91 prison staff who work in various capacities in eight prisons in northeast Italy to create a process of dialogue and collaboration that includes different points of view, needs, and proposals regarding mental health in prisons. Each participant took part in either a focus group or a semistructured interview, and the transcripts were processed using thematic analysis. During this process, ten themes emerged that highlight the challenges of working with prisoners suffering from psychiatric disorders.