Anxiety, Depression and Suicidal Ideation among Prisoners In Ghana

Abstract

The present study investigated anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation among prisoners in Ghana. Specific aims and objectives for this research were to (a) find the levels of psychopathological symptoms among male and female prisoners; (b) examine the differences in psychological symptoms among prisoners based on age, educational level, duration of sentence, type of crime, and religious affiliation; (c) find the relationship between coping strategies and suicidal ideation among prisoners; (d) find the extent to which coping strategies used by prisoners would moderate the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation; (e) find the relationship between coping mechanisms and depression; (f) examine the various causes of anxiety and depression among the prison population; and (g) evaluate how the conditions in the prison affect their psychological well-being. Using 170 research participants from the Nsawam Prisons in Ghana, the depression anxiety stress scale, cope inventory, modified scale for suicidal ideation, and an interview guide were administered in a sequential transformative mixed methods design. 150 participants were used for the quantitative study and four independent focus groups of 20 participants were used to qualitatively investigate the causes of depression and anxiety among prisoners as well as how the prison environment affects the psychological wellbeing of prisoners. This qualitative aspect was achieved through open-ended questions pertaining to anxiety, depression and psychological wellbeing among prisoners. Fundamental findings from this study include the fact that, high levels of depression, anxiety, stress and suicidal ideation exists among prisoners in Ghana. Of the male and female inmates, females experience greater proportions of psychopathologies than males. Besides, the coping mechanisms used by prisoners does not help them deal effectively with their psychopathological issues. Remarkably, the causes of these psychopathological issues among prisoners are partly due to internal conditions in the prisons such as relationship with inmates and officers, inadequate resources such as water, food, and health-care facilities, and external conditions such as relationships lost or left behind such as family, friends, and property. Findings supports most literature reviewed and the transactional model of stress as well as three-step theory. It is thus recommended that immediate psychological services be provided for prisoners to make their reformative exercise complete.