Mental Health, Barriers to Service Use and Help-Seeking: Relationship with Inmate Satisfaction with the Prison Facility

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/apl/a.12784
Título de la obra: "Perspectivas". Artista: Vanessa Daly dos Santos

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Published: Feb 10, 2026
Issue: Vol. 43 No. 2 (2025): Avances en Psicología Latinoamericana 43(2)
Section Artículos


Keywords: Mental Health Barriers to Access of Health Services Social Support Inmate Satisfaction Prisons

Main Article Content

Authors

  Lídia Lobo
Universidade da Beira Interior
  Ana Isabel Cunha
Universidade da Beira Interior e Universidade do Porto
  Vítor Costa
Universidade da Beira Interior
  Graça Esgalhado
Universidade da Beira Interior; Instituto de Psicologia Cognitiva, Desenvolvimento Vocacional e Social (IPCDVS)

Abstract

The current study aims at analyzing inmates’ perceptions on their own mental health, barriers to mental health service use and help-seeking, and their relationship with satisfaction with the prison facility. The sample comprises 136 male participants, aged between 21 and 68 years (M = 38.27; SD = 11.41). Data were collected through a self-administered survey in two Portuguese prisons. More than half of inmates (52.6%) report feelings of failure and of having let their families down. Being afraid that information can be used against them (38.5 %) and lack of confidentiality (35.9 %) were the most frequently mentioned barriers to mental health service use. Participants mostly seek support from their family/partner (85.3 %). A weak positive association was found between the total number of barriers identified and inmates’ daily concerns. A lower number of daily concerns and perceived barriers, and a high number of perceived sources of support predicted a higher likelihood of being satisfied with the institution. Implications for practice and research arising from the results of this study are presented.

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