Predictors of post-sentence mental health service use in a population cohort of first-time adult offenders in Western Australia
Background: Little is known about whether or how offenders use mental health services after sentence completion. Aim: This study aimed to determine the likelihood of such service use by adult (18-44years) first-time offenders up to 5years after sentence completion and possible predictor variables. M...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
2014
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/40340 |
| _version_ | 1848755844405002240 |
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| author | Sodhi-Berry, N. Knuiman, M. Preen, D. Alan, Janine Morgan, V. |
| author_facet | Sodhi-Berry, N. Knuiman, M. Preen, D. Alan, Janine Morgan, V. |
| author_sort | Sodhi-Berry, N. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background: Little is known about whether or how offenders use mental health services after sentence completion. Aim: This study aimed to determine the likelihood of such service use by adult (18-44years) first-time offenders up to 5years after sentence completion and possible predictor variables. Methods: Pre-sentence and post-sentence mental health service use was obtained from whole-population linked administrative data on 23,661 adult offenders. Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine which socio-demographic, offending and pre-sentence health service variables were associated with such post-sentence service use. Results: The estimated 5-year probability of any post-sentence mental health service use was 12% for offenders who had not previously used such services, but still only 42% for those who had. For the latter, best predictors of post-sentence use were past psychiatric diagnosis and history of self-harm; history of self-harm also predicted post-sentence use among new mental health services users and so also did past physical illness. Indigenous offenders had a greater likelihood of service use for any mental disorder or for substance use disorders than non-Indigenous offenders, irrespective of pre-sentence use. Among those with pre-sentence service contact, imprisoned offenders were less likely to use mental health services after sentence than those under community penalties; in its absence, socio-economic disadvantage and geographic accessibility were associated with greater likelihood of post-sentence use. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the discontinuity of mental healthcare for most sentenced offenders, but especially prisoners, and suggest a need for better management strategies for these vulnerable groups with mental disorders. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:02:46Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-40340 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:02:46Z |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-403402017-09-13T13:39:37Z Predictors of post-sentence mental health service use in a population cohort of first-time adult offenders in Western Australia Sodhi-Berry, N. Knuiman, M. Preen, D. Alan, Janine Morgan, V. Background: Little is known about whether or how offenders use mental health services after sentence completion. Aim: This study aimed to determine the likelihood of such service use by adult (18-44years) first-time offenders up to 5years after sentence completion and possible predictor variables. Methods: Pre-sentence and post-sentence mental health service use was obtained from whole-population linked administrative data on 23,661 adult offenders. Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine which socio-demographic, offending and pre-sentence health service variables were associated with such post-sentence service use. Results: The estimated 5-year probability of any post-sentence mental health service use was 12% for offenders who had not previously used such services, but still only 42% for those who had. For the latter, best predictors of post-sentence use were past psychiatric diagnosis and history of self-harm; history of self-harm also predicted post-sentence use among new mental health services users and so also did past physical illness. Indigenous offenders had a greater likelihood of service use for any mental disorder or for substance use disorders than non-Indigenous offenders, irrespective of pre-sentence use. Among those with pre-sentence service contact, imprisoned offenders were less likely to use mental health services after sentence than those under community penalties; in its absence, socio-economic disadvantage and geographic accessibility were associated with greater likelihood of post-sentence use. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the discontinuity of mental healthcare for most sentenced offenders, but especially prisoners, and suggest a need for better management strategies for these vulnerable groups with mental disorders. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/40340 10.1002/cbm.1927 restricted |
| spellingShingle | Sodhi-Berry, N. Knuiman, M. Preen, D. Alan, Janine Morgan, V. Predictors of post-sentence mental health service use in a population cohort of first-time adult offenders in Western Australia |
| title | Predictors of post-sentence mental health service use in a population cohort of first-time adult offenders in Western Australia |
| title_full | Predictors of post-sentence mental health service use in a population cohort of first-time adult offenders in Western Australia |
| title_fullStr | Predictors of post-sentence mental health service use in a population cohort of first-time adult offenders in Western Australia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Predictors of post-sentence mental health service use in a population cohort of first-time adult offenders in Western Australia |
| title_short | Predictors of post-sentence mental health service use in a population cohort of first-time adult offenders in Western Australia |
| title_sort | predictors of post-sentence mental health service use in a population cohort of first-time adult offenders in western australia |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/40340 |