Our proposal focuses on providing clinically approved Mental Health and Wellbeing Training in prisons, followed by the implementation of a Peer-to-Peer Mental Health Ambassador Programme. This is with the aim of fostering a resilient and supportive environment for the men in custody we work with.
Categories
Beneficiaries
Situation
There is very little provision in UK prisons for mental health support currently. Mental health in the community is very prominent, more so in prisons where the same support and help is not as easily available. Our unique peer-to-peer training and support makes the men we support feel comfortable, heard, at ease and understood. Our ultimate goal is to ease suffering and prevent long-term mental ill-health that can lead to self-harm and thoughts of suicide in the prison environment.
Solution
We provide opportunities for prisoners to learn about their mental health and then become ambassadors, therefore offering peer to peer support. The training has been created in partnership with Jamma International and using the Mental Health First Aid England training the My Life team has had, to be relevant and specific to prisoners. We aim to raise awareness, build resilience, provide early intervention, reform and reduce re-offending and benefit the community.
