Report: Life in open conditions
Residents at His Majesty's Prison Leyhill, which is a Category D prison holding people who are preparing to return to the community, told us about their experiences of mental health care. We also heard from prison staff.
Key findings
- People in prison experiencing poor mental health is a recognised issue. Rates of severe mental illness are 10 times those in the general population.
- Nine out of 10 people in prison have at least one mental health, neurodevelopmental or substance use problem and many have experienced trauma.
- The experience of residents with the mental health provision at Leyhill was largely positive.
- People often felt listened to, supported and felt that they received better healthcare than was available at previous prisons or in the community.
- Some prisoners believed there were gaps or weaknesses in the service, and we have reflected these experiences in our report to highlight areas where changes could further benefit mental wellbeing in the prison population.
Download our full report below.
Downloads
Life in open conditions: mental health at HMP Leyhill
I’ve had some difficulty since coming in. My dad passed away in August, but they were supportive. They listened to me more than in my previous prison.
