Caring for persons in detention suffering with mental illness during the Covid-19 outbreak

Liebrenz, Michael; Bhugra, Dinesh; Buadze, Anna; Schleifer, Roman

doi:10.1016/j.fsiml.2020.100013

Cited by 84 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…This phenomenon has been observed for every severe psychiatric disorder in every country (16,17). The vulnerability of psychiatric populations in prison is even greater, and specific measures should be anticipated (Table 4) (18).…”

Section: Individual Vulnerability Of Psychiatric Patients To Coronavirusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ensuring mental health care during the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in France: A narrative review

et al. 2020

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Objective: The lack of resources and coordination to face the coronavirus epidemic raises concerns for the health of patients with mental disorders in a country where we still have memories of the dramatic experience of famine in psychiatric hospitals during the Second World War. This article aims to propose guidance to ensure mental health care during the SARS-CoV epidemic in France. Methods: The authors performed a narrative review identifying relevant results in the scientific and medical literature and in local initiatives in France. Results : We identified four types of major vulnerabilities among patients with mental disorders during this pandemic: 1) medical comorbidities that are more frequently found among patients with mental disorders (cardiovascular and pulmonary pathologies, diabetes, obesity, etc.) which are risk factors for severe covid-19 infection; 2) age (the elderly form the population most vulnerable to the coronavirus); 3) cognitive and behavioural disorders, which can hamper compliance with confinement and hygiene measures and finally and 4) psychosocial vulnerability as a result of stigmatization and/or socio-economic difficulties. Furthermore, the mental health healthcare system is more vulnerable than other healthcare systems. Current government plans are poorly suited to psychiatric establishments in a context of major shortages of organizational, material and human resources. In addition, a certain number of structural aspects make the psychiatric institution particularly vulnerable: many beds have been closed, wards have high densities of patients, mental health community facilities are closed, and medical teams are understaffed and poorly trained to face infectious diseases. There are also major issues when referring patients with acute mental disorders to intensive care units. To maintain the continuity of psychiatric care in this pandemic situation, several directions can be considered, in particular with the creation of "COVID+ units". These units are under the dual supervision of a psychiatrist and an internist / infectious disease specialist; all new entrants are placed in quarantine for 14 days; the nursing staff receives specific training, daily medical checkups and close psychological support. Family visits are prohibited and replaced by videoconference. At the end of hospitalization, in particular for the population of patients in compulsory ambulatory care situations, specific case-management are organized with the possibility of home visits, in order to support patients when they get back home and to help them cope with the experience of confinement, which is liable to induce recurrences of mental disorders. The total or partial closure of community mental health facilities is particularly disturbing for patients, but a regular follow-up is possible with telemedicine and should include the monitoring of suicide risk and psycho-education strategies;developing support platforms could also be very helpful in this context. Private practice psychiatrists also have a crucial role...

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Section: Individual Vulnerability Of Psychiatric Patients To Coronavirusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ensuring mental health care during the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in France: A narrative review

et al. 2020

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“…Differences in responses can influence the mental health toll of being incarcerated during a pandemic. This is the case not only because the availability of mental health services in the context of COVID-19 may fluctuate (Liebrenz et al, 2020), but also because the humaneness of confinement during this time is directly dependent upon the measures taken by prisons and jails to protect their confined populations. In short, understanding patterned differences in correctional responses to the pandemic across jurisdictions is likely to assist with assessing the longer-term consequences of the pandemic tied to physical and mental health, recidivism, and potential 8th amendment litigation efforts.…”

Section: Current Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Institutional Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic in American Prisons

Novisky

Narvey

Semenza

2020

Victims & Offenders

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The COVID-19 pandemic infiltrated the United States in early 2020, with correctional facilities becoming hot spots for the novel coronavirus shortly thereafter. Using data gathered from Departments of Corrections' official websites, we provide a summary of state and federal prison system responses to COVID-19 as of June 2020. We highlight strengths and deficiencies in system responses as well as pertinent variations across jurisdictions. We conclude with a call for scholars and grant funders to prioritize incarceration-based data collection efforts on COVID-19 so the short and long-term consequences of the pandemic, and systemic responses to it, can be more fully assessed.

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“…Early coordination between prison authorities, prosecutors, public security, hospitals, and others is vital. The prison system should work with other agencies to develop clear guidelines on referrals (Liebrenz et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Third, from the resource management perspective, it is difficult to sustain the massive control effort in all facilities for a long period of time. Social distancing is hard to implement in correctional institutions due to the crowded nature of the facilities (Liebrenz et al, 2020). In addition, prisons and jails have fast and unexpected population turnover.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Long working hours and extended duty time during the pandemic have a negative impact on their physical health, mental health, work performance, and their relationships with their families. Because of the difficulties in practicing social distancing in correctional settings, prison officers are at a heightened risk of being infected (Liebrenz et al, 2020). Staff turnover and absenteeism are low in Chinese prisons, which contributed to the stability in the operation of the facilities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Correctional System’s Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic and Its Implications for Prison Reform in China

Liu

2020

Victims & Offenders

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Large outbreaks of coronavirus infections occurred in several prisons in China in February 2020. Since then, the authorities on the national and local levels have introduced a series of measures to prevent more COVID-19 infections in correctional institutions. This article reviews those strategies and explores their ties to past prison reforms and their potential influences on future directions. First, it provides an overview of the changes in prison management and operation that foreshadowed some of China's approaches to COVID-19 in the prison system. Second, it examines the strategies undertaken by the prison system to stop the spread of COVID-19. Finally, the article discusses the implications of the COVID-19 response for prison reforms and the challenges the Chinese prison system faces in its continuous efforts to contain COVID-19.

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Caring for persons in detention suffering with mental illness during the Covid-19 outbreak

Cited by 84 publications

References 10 publications

Ensuring mental health care during the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in France: A narrative review

Ensuring mental health care during the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in France: A narrative review

Institutional Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic in American Prisons

Correctional System’s Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic and Its Implications for Prison Reform in China

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