The Mentally Ill Incarcerated

ByTravis Skeens

The Mentally Ill Incarcerated

I’m not much of a writer but I thought I’d write about something I’ve been through and something I can relate too being that I was mentally ill and in and out of county jails and prisons many, many times. Prison is a hard and demeaning existence and for more or less than half of the incarcerated from county jail and state prisons they are mentally ill. I say more or less because some inmates may not be diagnosed but are mentally ill.

It seems appropriate on bringing to attention the facts and reality of the statics of the mentally ill and addicts incarcerated in our county jail and state prisons. The jails and prisons are not equipped to properly treat the mentally ill. Either between lack of personnel or lack of or inadequate training the odds are against the mentally ill.
According to Renee Lewis of Al Jazeera America (2014), “There are over 356,000 mentally ill incarcerated in our jail/prisons and the total amount of housed inmates in America is 2.2 million a 500% increase over the last 30 years. mentally ill Americans who are imprisoned often leave incarceration sicker than when they entered, according to the report, released by the treatment advocacy center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating barriers to the timely and effective treatment of severe mental illness the incarceration of these individuals leads to too increased taxpayer costs in the long run, according to the report”. Mentally ill prisoners have higher rates of recidivism. That equals 363,997.8 inmates who are either not mentally ill or not diagnosed so the numbers obviously might not be 100% accurate.

Being incarcerated especially in state prisons is a violent and uncaring environment and to be mentally ill and incarcerated is not always the best option for a decent outcome. As I personally know by being diagnosed with bipolar 1 with psychotic tendencies and that environment exacerbated my mental illness. so does overcrowding our prisons with the mentally ill make sense or does getting them the proper help so there’s a lesser chance of reoffending which lessens the overcrowding of our jails/prisons.

According to Renee Lewis of Al Jazeera America there are 10 times more mentally ill Americans in prisons and jails than in state psychiatric hospitals. Adding that those individuals’ conditions often deteriorate while they are incarcerated. A study by Dr. E. Fuller Torrey founder of the Treatment Advocacy Center states that ” the lack of treatment for the seriously ill inmates is inhumane and should not be allowed in a civilized society” In December 2013 the Whitehouse announced a $100 million campaign to increase access to mental health services. Vice president Joe Biden said in a statement on December 10 2013 «the fact that less than half of children and adults with diagnosable mental health problems receive the treatment they need is unacceptable”.

It’s obvious that much more not only needs to be done about the mental health system but the mentally ill need not be looked at as deviant antisocial outcasts. I know I have been unfairly labeled and judged because I didn’t conform to what people (who have never seen or knowingly been around someone who is mentally ill) deem as normal behavior. There is hope out there as in my case my county developed a program called AIIM (Alternative to incarceration for individuals with mental health needs) which I was in the county jail when the program got ready to launch and I was recommended by the doctor there in the jail to be talked to which I was, and they laid out program to me and I knew I had severe issues so I agreed to be the first client in the AIIM program.
Not only is the AIIM program a mental health program the focus on dual diagnosis (addiction to alcohol/drugs) which I self medicated for 19 years. I did violate my probation a couple times by using drugs and instead of allowing me to go to prison I was given a chance and I am very happy that not only did they keep me out of prison they helped me into an inpatient rehab facility which I have been clean for 6 years and 4 months and I have not even come close to reoffending in any manner. AIIM not only helped me stay on my medication to help me stay stable they helped me save my life by helping me not only get into rehab but by support and believing in me as a person.

I know if funding would be invested more in to programs like the AIIM program recidivism rates would lessen over time. There are definitely many groups and support groups and advocacy groups out there now it’s time for the other half to listen and be involved.