Mental health screening and brief assessments

Abstract Mental health screenings and assessments are fundamental components of psychiatric care across all settings. In jails and prisons, where the prevalence of mental illness and psychiatric symptoms is alarmingly high, the role of accurate and timely screenings and assessments is especially crucial. Moreover, suicide rates in jails and prisons are significantly higher than in the general population due to a variety of risk factors such as histories of trauma and the stress of incarceration. This chapter details the processes, structures, and timing of mental health screenings and assessments, with a particular focus on suicide risk assessment. It highlights the importance of identifying at-risk individuals early and providing them with appropriate clinical interventions to mitigate the risk of suicide and exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms. Additionally, best practices for continuous monitoring, reevaluation, follow-up assessments, treatment referrals, and suicide prevention are discussed.