In Mexico, suicide and suicidal behaviors (SB) have increased 275% since 1990. Prisoners constitute a growing population in Mexico and have been identified as high suicide risk. Using a sample of 194 male prisoners, we measure what demographics and mental health symptomology are associated with suicidal ideation (SI) and SB, and identify what demographics and mental health symptomology predict SI and SB. Global Severity and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) were significant predictors of experiencing SI, whereas global severity, ACEs, and age were significant predictors of experiencing SB. Findings support increased identification and comprehensive mental health services addressing suicidality in prisons.

This article examines the relationship between internalizing dimensions of emotional and behavioral disorders such as depression, and anxiety, with unresolved trauma and abuse among incarcerated girls in Mexico and the United States. The goal is to arrive at a better understanding of (a) how mental health conditions may contribute to deviant behavior, (b) how girls with disabilities may be disproportionately punished because of their gender and disability status, and (c) the limited capabilities of personnel in correctional facilities to diagnose disabilities in incarcerated girls or identify girls who have not been diagnosed. The results, supported by the chivalry hypothesis, demonstrate the need for a gender-informed response to dealing with girls’ deviant behaviors, as well as trauma-informed practices to address mental health disabilities and victimization among delinquent girls in both the United States and Mexico.

Prisons in Mexico, like other countries, struggle to house and effectively treat individuals with mental illness. This study on 194 male Mexican prisoners managing mental disorders aims to 1) explore what mental health symptomology is associated with self-stigma and 2) identify what mental health symptomology predicts increased self-stigma. Results found that depression, mania, and anger significantly predicted harm to self-esteem scores, and education and mania significantly predicted agreement and application subscales. Given the increased number of imprisoned individuals with mental illness in Mexico and minimal treatment available, these findings support the importance of implementing self-stigma interventions within prisons.

No abstract

<span>El objetivo de este artículo es mostrar los hallazgos que identificamos a partir de una estrategia de intervención implementada desde trabajo social con Maru, que en su entorno cotidiano dentro del Centro Femenil de Reinserción Social es tratada como una mujer con demencia, para mostrar cómo se involucró activamente con el equipo de trabajo coordinado por mí y compuesto por 15 estudiantes del último año de la licenciatura en trabajo social, quienes visitamos el centro durante 2019. Como resultado de esta experiencia debatiré algunas nociones médicas sobre la demencia, pues no basta la perspectiva médica para el abordaje del sufrimiento mental (Galende 2015). A partir de esta estrategia identificamos la relevancia de aproximaciones psicosociales y grupales para comprender la discapacidad psicosocial y favorecer cambios significativos en una mujer con demencia. También la estrategia nos permitió identificar las formas en que la institución penitenciaria refuerza una feminidad específica. Detallaré lo observado y vivido con Maru en tres ejes: apariencia y cuidado, comunicación gestual y etiqueta social, y memoria.</span>