Hopelessness, Depression, & Self Harm among Prisoners in Pakistan

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the impact of imprisonment on the mental health among prisoners in terms of levels and association of hopelessness, depression and self-harm among prisoners in Pakistan. The paper is based on a cross-sectional survey method design by using purposive sampling technique. The findings highlighted the prevalence and correlation of hopelessness, depression and self-harm among prisoners. Moreover, the level of hopelessness, depression and self-harm is higher among female as compared to male prisoners. Whereas, prisoners from low socioeconomic status were found with greater level of hopelessness, depression and self-harm than middle class prisoners. Additionally, the uneducated prisoners were found to be more depressed and were high on deliberate self-harm than the prisoners with primary to high level of education. Similarly, the drugs convicted prisoners were identified with more depression and self-harm than the prisoners involved in murder case. The current study may help the prison administration to improve awareness and understand the need of rehabilitation of prisoners by highlighting the mental illness. This study provides and contributes in highlighting the mental illnesses among the prisoners during their incarceration which will further help the prison administration by understanding the mental issues among prison population.

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