Mental health of penitentiary staff as a predictor of their successful functioning in the professional space

Abstract

Introduction. Due to the character of penitentiary staff's professional activities, there are significant challenges to maintaining their mental health. The work of penitentiary staff has a dangerous impact on their health, both physical and mental, and is fraught with stressors and heavy psycho-emotional stress. Every day, the staff of penitentiaries experiences the stress of "being not free", a kind of "liberty restriction". This requires, in particular, the study of different concepts for solving this problem. Aim. To study theoretically existing approaches to the definition of mental health, explore the interpretation of mental health and psychological well-being in psychological science, substantiate the importance of maintaining mental health as a predictor of prison staff's work efficiency. Methods. Theoretical analysis, classification, systematization and generalization of scientific psychological literature on the problem of interest. Results. The main components of the mental health problem in Ukraine have been identified. General approaches to the analysis of the content of mental health in psychological science have been revealed. The idea of multilevel mental and psychological health is given. It has been found that the mental health of prison staff manifests itself on emotional, intellectual and personal levels. Conclusions. Mental health is a state of mental activity, which provides the individual's ability to adjust to both favorable and adverse conditions and effects, as well as the ability to self-regulate and coordinate activities in accordance with the existing standards and functional resources. The main criteria for mental health are the individual's adjustability of mental activity and behavior adequate to the individual's age and environmental characteristics and influences. It is undoubtedly important to study the ways of maintaining and promoting penitentiary staff's mental health.