[Referrals from Flemish prisons to external mental health care]

Although mental health care for prisoners with mental health problems during and after detention improves re-integration and reduces criminal recidivism, prisoners with psychiatric problems seem to have difficulties connecting to regular mental health care after detention.  AIM: To describe referrals from Flemish prisons to psychiatric hospitals or external therapeutic settings in the year 2019.  METHOD: All prisoners with mental health problems that were referred from a Flemish prison to mental health care in 2019 were studied (n = 577) , using data collected by the Flemish initiative TANDEM.  RESULTS: The vast majority of referrals were prisoners with a substance use disorder. In total, 1 in 5 prisoners with mental health problems directly had access to ambulatory or residential mental health care. 30% of these ultimately did not appear to start with the planned treatment.

Continuity of mental health care after detention is recommended and also has a social benefit. Improving cooperation between justice and external mental health care, taking into account the needs of the prisoner, is essential in the development of succesful treatment plans.