“Made a world of a difference”: mental health services in incarcerated settings

Abstract

The consequences of incarceration on currently and formerly confined individuals has been well documented. However, the loved ones of those incarcerated are an often-overlooked population. Specifically, the mental health challenges of those with an incarcerated loved one are often disregarded. By interviewing members of an online support group on Facebook, this study aims to amplify the voices of individuals with an incarcerated loved one and understand their perception of mental health professionals, for both themselves, as well as their incarcerated loved one through their lived experience. The theme, mental health services, encompassed the codes of repercussions, beneficial, lack of treatment, needing therapy, and efficacy. Each code will be discussed in-depth, with limitations and future directions included.