May has been recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month for over 70 years and is a time to raise awareness about mental and behavioral health issues. There are resources and tools available to you and your incarcerated loved ones all year round; the support doesn’t need to stop at the end of the month.
In 2022, the National Alliance on Mental Illness reported that 2 in 5 people who are incarcerated have a history of mental illness (37% in state and federal prisons and 44% held in local jails). Nearly 66% of women in prison reported having a history of mental illness, almost twice the percentage of men in prison. However, less than a quarter of these individuals receive treatment during incarceration. As a loved one of an incarcerated individual, it’s important to talk about the challenges, stigmas, and needed solutions around mental illness.
ViaPath Technologies offers several resources to help address the emotional and mental health of your incarcerated loved ones. These resources can also support successful reintegration when it is time for their release.
For the family and friends on the outside, there are many national organizations focused on getting help for individuals suffering from mental illness, ensuring their safety and well-being:
Additionally, ViaPath recognizes the importance of maintaining connections when addressing mental health and continues to offer our free weekly communications program allowing incarcerated individuals consistent contact with their loved ones to receive support and aid in maintaining a positive outlook.
“Just because no one else can heal or do your inner work for you, doesn’t mean you can, should, or need to do it alone.” – Lisa Olivera
Prioritizing mental health is essential to overall wellbeing. ViaPath Technologies encourages everyone to reach out to your loved ones to give and/or receive support.
ViaPath provides advanced communications and management solutions that facilitate meaningful connections, provide educational opportunities, and enable successful reintegration for 1.6 million incarcerated individuals. ViaPath is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with an employee presence throughout North America. To learn more, please visit www.viapath.com.