Providing mental health services in prisons during the covid-19 pandemic – challenges and opportunities for growth

The impact of Covid-19 makes provision of mental health care in prisons particularly challenging. The current impact on staff and prisoners is significant. Staff are under pressure to make ongoing adaptions to how they work and the interventions they are able to offer, whilst increased time spent in lock down and a reduction in services is having a negative effect on the mental health and wellbeing of prisoners. The potential for longer term deleterious consequences is also great given the currently high levels of psychological distress. Clinical psychologists could be invaluable in supporting staff and adaptations to services so support is maintained, but providing this increased level of support within an already stretched system is challenging, particularly given that prisons are predominantly staffed by forensic rather than clinical psychologists. The need for an adequate level of clinical psychology provision within prisons may never have been greater. © 2020, British Psychological Society. All rights reserved.

Mental health plan for workers of the London Nightingale Hospital: following the evidence to support staff.

The COVID-19 pandemic has extracted an enormous physical health toll on many millions worldwide, and the wider societal impact from economic turmoil, unemployment, social isolation and so forth continue to be measured. A less explored aspect has been the psychological impact on treating healthcare staff, with emerging evidence of 'moral injury' and mental illness for some. This review explores the evidence base for implementing a tiered model of care to minimise this and foster 'post-traumatic growth', and describes the authors' implementation of this in the London Nightingale hospital, with lessons for the armed forces.