AMICABLE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Addressing Mental health In Custody A Brief Learning Environment: AMICABLE A peer-led 6-step problem-solving intervention using an interrupted time series and integrated matched cohort study design.
IRAS ID
330236
Contact name
Amanda E Perry
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of York
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
What is the problem?
Many people in prison have mental health problems. Current treatments focus on the individual, but recent evidence supports a more holistic, prison-based approach. We will evaluate a new, brief and simple peer-led Problem Support Mentor Scheme (PSMS) that is disseminated across the whole prison site.
How will we address this problem?
We will examine a toolkit to implement the PSMS in prisons, assess whether the PSMS can improve quality of life, symptoms of depression, NHS resource use and whether it reduces the number of self-harm and violent incidents. We will assess the cost-effectiveness of the PSMS and evaluate whether it makes a difference to people following release from prison using a ‘through the gate’ volunteering opportunity.
Who will conduct the work?
Researchers from the Universities of York and Leeds will collaborate with an ex-prisoner representative, a prison service lead, the prison radio association, a third sector organization, one social enterprise, one private healthcare provider, one NHS Trust and multiple prison sites.
How will patients and the public be involved?
People already involved in the scheme from two prisons have helped to form this proposal. They helped us develop the idea, gather views about NHS prison services and identify potential problems. Prison staff and prisoners will be involved in making changes and deciding how the scheme should run in their prison site. Prisoners, an ex-prisoner, and an external service user group will tell people about their involvement in the study.
How will we tell people about the findings of our research?
Prisoners and prison staff will be involved in prison radio broadcasts. Prisoners will write an article for a national prison newspaper (Inside Time) and will co-present the findings at a conference. Information will be shared on the prison service intranet. We will publish the findings in an academic journal.
REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/EE/0240
Date of REC Opinion
19 Dec 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion