QUESTION
How is mental illness addressed in NYC jails, and what is the relationship between mental illness and violence among the inmate population?
2:42:18
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7 min
Upon intake into NYC jails, individuals undergo an assessment by clinicians to discuss any mental health issues, which determines their appropriate housing and treatment, with a focus on addressing the needs of those suffering from mental illnesses, including those with serious conditions.
- A significant percentage of the jail population struggles with mental illness, receiving mental health treatment during custody.
- Correctional Health Services (CHS) and Department of Corrections (DOC) collaborate to provide mental and physical health care, including specialized program such as PACE for those with serious mental illnesses.
- Mental Observation (MO) units and Crisis Prevention and Suicide Prevention protocols are in place to offer structured support and prevent self-harm among inmates.
- Training for DOC staff includes mental health first aid, suicide prevention, and crisis intervention to better assist inmates with mental health needs.
Adrienne E. Adams
2:42:18
I heard a violent population, percentage of violent population, violence in the population, But I didn't hear you really, really reference the mental illness percentages in your opening statement.
2:42:31
Even though we know that half of the population suffers from mental illness.
2:42:37
So can you dig a little bit more into that what you foresee as far as the population is concerned, mental illness, what your needs are, what you're currently doing to address mental illness in the jail.
Lynelle Maginley-Liddie
2:42:51
So what I can tell you is that upon admission into our facilities, everyone goes through intake and one of the things that they're one of the things that happens is that they're with a clinician to discuss any mental health issues.
2:43:06
Based on that conversation with that clinician, it's determined what housing is appropriate for the individual.
2:43:15
We work closely with our partners at CHS to ensure people are getting the care that they need, and we're constantly discussing different cases with them, joint action reviews, and and and and those types of settings.
2:43:31
To talk about how we can provide the best possible care for people in our in our custody.
2:43:36
That work is ongoing.
2:43:38
I have the deputy commissioner of Health Affairs.
2:43:40
He can give you a little bit more information as to because he has day to day contact with CHS, DC Saunders,
Adrienne E. Adams
2:43:48
And along with that, you can add add into that what I'm thinking about as well.
2:43:53
The relationship between the violent population and the population with mental health issues.
James Saunders
2:44:05
Thank you.
2:44:05
Can you hear me?
2:44:06
Yes.
2:44:09
I'm James Saunders, Deputy Commissioner for Health Affairs, compliance and quality.
2:44:12
Thank you for the opportunity to discuss these important matters today.
2:44:17
With respect to mental health services, I can tell you that over the past several years, we've seen a significant trees and the percentage of the New York City jail population that struggles with mental illness.
2:44:29
Today, anywhere from 52% to 54% of the jail population, are known to mental health and have received some form of mental health treatment while in custody.
2:44:40
According to our CHA's CHS colleagues, approximately 20% of this population, has been diagnosed with a serious mental illness.
2:44:51
Many of these individuals are entering the jails with preexisting conditions such as mental illness, substance abuse, etcetera.
2:44:59
And also, then have to contend with the psychological impact and stress of incarceration.
2:45:05
We're proud to partner with correctional health services, the provider of physical and mental health across our facilities and to support these individuals while they are in our studio care.
2:45:16
In addition to healthcare services provided by CHS, I think you heard earlier from FTC Tours The department's program staff provides supportive programming that enhances behavioral coping skills, supports anger management, addresses substance abuse, encourages productive and positive social behavior.
2:45:38
Our objective is to address the needs of the whole person while they are now custody, which includes providing appropriate levels of mental health care and programmatic support that meets the unique needs of the individual.
2:45:51
For individuals in need of enhanced support, the department runs several specialized housing units with CHS.
2:45:59
And we continue to discuss the evolving need of safe and effective mental health housing options that address a wide spectrum of behavioral health concerns.
2:46:09
Our agencies will continue to work together to ensure we develop a responsive strategy for persons in custody with significant mental health needs.
2:46:19
I'm gonna talk about mental observation units.
2:46:21
So although all individuals have access to mental health providers when the need arises, certain persons in custody may require a more structured environment and more frequent custodial and clinical oversight and observation.
2:46:36
For that particular population, we operate mental observation units.
2:46:41
MO units operate under the guidance of a multidisciplinary team.
2:46:45
Of unit based mental health providers who conduct daily rounds, provide group programming and individual psychotherapy, and oversee medication treatment.
2:46:54
MO units are not punitive and afford the same out of cell time as general population units.
2:47:02
Turning to folks with more serious mental illness.
2:47:06
We the department works in conjunction with CHS to operate the program for accelerating clinical effectiveness also known as PACE.
2:47:16
PACE focuses on enhancing coping skills, improving communication abilities, promoting insight and competency into managing one's mental illness, emotions, and behavior.
2:47:27
CHS advises the department on which individual are suited for pace, placement based on their acuity of mental health need.
2:47:38
The department also recognizes that individuals with serious mental illness do not belong in any form of restrictive housing.
2:47:45
However, persons with guilty adjudications for serious infractions may be assigned to caps.
2:47:52
And that's a unit that is that's based on clinical determination.
2:47:57
The assignment is based on clinical determination made by CHS.
2:48:01
That unit provides intensive mental health treatments for individuals with serious mental illness who have been adjudicated again for a serious infection but do not need to be hospitalized.
2:48:12
So like PACE, CAPS units are staffed by both DOC and CHS personnel who support residents about helping them enhance their coping skills, improve their communication skills, and develop insight and competency to managing them in illness as well as their emotions and behavior.
2:48:31
I think we should address self harm and suicide prevention as well since we're on the topic of mental health.
2:48:36
Is that okay?
Adrienne E. Adams
2:48:37
Briefly, please.
Alex Stein
2:48:38
We've
Adrienne E. Adams
2:48:38
got to move on to my colleagues.
James Saunders
2:48:40
Alright.
2:48:40
So in addition to providing appropriate therapeutic housing, the department also recognizes that maintaining comp prehensive policies and procedures for the prevention of suicide and self harm is critically important to supporting those entrusted into health care.
2:48:53
Our policies and training in this area were recently reviewed by Doctor.
2:48:57
Tim Belovich, a nationally recognized expert in the area of suicide prevention.
2:49:04
We recognize that during the pandemic, the rates of suicide increased, especially in folks who are incarcerated, In our GL population, if you look at the demographic, about 57% of the GL population, it's comprised of individuals between the ages of 19 to 34.
2:49:20
To the overwhelming majority or people of African American descent and Latino men.
2:49:26
In addition, I'll strike that.
2:49:30
So we do focus on training and education as well in these areas.
2:49:35
All members of service received training and mental health mental health first aid, suicide prevention, and CPR certification at the academy.
2:49:46
We also offered crisis intervention training to staff assigned to mental health housing units.
2:49:51
Crisis intervention and deescalation is now offered through an online class.
2:49:57
And all officers are trained on the department's suicide prevention policies, which are reinforced through roll call refreshers.
2:50:04
In addition, we have posters placed throughout the facilities and other means, so I'll stop there for any questions.
