Predictors of engagement in female offenders accessing mental health treatment requirements

Abstract

ABSTRACT Mental Health Treatment Requirements (MHTR) form a part of Community Sentences given by courts which are being expanded nationally. There is a lack of evidence on what factors have a predictive potential for engagement in treatment given the complex nature of the population. The aim of this study is to establish if motivation, insight, mental health diagnosis, current drug use, housing needs, offending history and CORE-OM score predict engagement of female service users. Data obtained from 138 female participants in MHTR site between 2017 and 2020 accepted on MHTR was analysed using correlational, non-experimental design to determine the relationship between the predictor variables and service engagement. Binary logistic regression showed that poor insight, current drug use, offending history and CORE-OM score significantly predicted poor engagement. Motivation, mental health diagnosis and housing needs did not predict engagement. Improvements for the assessment process are suggested to make MHTR services more accessible and diverse, as well as meeting the needs of those with poor engagement rates.