Prisoners’ Experiences of Training and Working as a Peer Mental Health Mentor in an Irish Prison

Abstract

The prevalence of mental health problems is higher in prisoners than for the general population. Increasing numbers of people in prison with mental health problems has meant that many prisons do not have access to appropriate mental health supports to meet the large demand, with long waiting periods for referrals. Peer-based interventions have been recognised as having the potential to contribute to the provision of mental health supports for prisoners. Consequently, a program of peer mentoring (POWER), adopting a recovery orientation to support prisoner mental health was developed by the organisation Suicide or Survive (SOS) in Ireland. This study is an independent evaluation of POWER, utilising a longitudinal qualitative descriptive design. Trainee mentors (n = 9) in the prison setting were interviewed at commencement, during, and after the 19-month training program to capture their views on becoming a peer mental health mentor. Findings, developed from a thematic analysis, suggest the experience was a positive one, with participants reporting increased self-esteem, hope and personal responsibility. Participants had a thorough understanding of the negative impact that prison can have on mental health and following the training they were confident about their role and ability to work with mentees. This evaluation identified that the availability of peers who have lived experience of being in prison with mental health difficulties provides accessible and user-friendly support for prisoners who are experiencing distress.