The Joys and Challenges of Prison Research in the PROSPECT trial
Written by Jon Sissons, Research Assistant Psychologist, PROSPECT project
Working on the PROSPECT trial as a Research Assistant Psychologist, I have been fortunate to have a unique perspective going into prisons, speaking to prisoners at risk of self-harm or suicide.
Working Together
As the team established a presence in each of the four trial prisons, it often felt like we were treading new ground, as the work planned for years prior by the wider PROSPECT team came to fruition. Of course, initiating any new research trial in prison or otherwise must feel this way, but there was definite excitement in being able to spread the word of the PROSPECT programme and what it offers. This was no small task, as prisons depend on staff from so many areas, with officers, probation, chaplaincy, safer custody, security, healthcare and mental health, education and workshops, amongst many others, all playing a part. Just as in the rest of the population, staff attitudes to self-harm and the perceived role of prisons in providing a therapeutic environment to support those at risk can be varied. Being able to work constructively with diverse opinions, including at times challenging them, can be one of the trickier aspects of delivering research around self-harm and suicide. However, throughout the prisons I worked in there was palpable interest in the opportunity to provide extra support to some of the most vulnerable people in prisons. On the face of it, prisons can seem like archaic institutions, but there is a definite readiness to try new approaches and ways of providing support to people in prisons. It was a particular joy to speak to some staff working in such a challenging, complex environment, who are able to work past compassion fatigue and continue to champion for the voice of prisoners.
Room Space
Prisons in the UK are rarely designed to be therapeutic spaces. Many prisons are old buildings, and in some cases retain the look of the former military bases they are often built on. This can create challenges for all staff working in prisons, as the constraints of space, coupled with the logistics of prisoner movement, can make it difficult to get a space to work with people, both one to one and in groups. For prisoners, this is part of wider difficulties getting time to spend outside of their cells. Having a space separate from the wings where people spend most of their day, sleeping, eating and socialising is especially important for a trial like PROSPECT, which asks participants about difficult topics around self-harm and suicide. Support from prisons on practicalities such as room space has been invaluable, and efforts to accommodate and work around the team certainly go a long way in helping the project and the people taking part.
Risk and Reward
Working in prisons for the first time, one of the first things you’ll often hear is that it’s an environment unlike any other, but that it’s not for everybody. Being welcomed into the prisons and given help to learn the ins and outs of how things work really helps when adjusting to prison research. Some of the pressures of the prison environment, such as issues around risk and security, can inevitably overshadow other work with prisoners. In prisons, risk and security issues are an important context to the extent of self-harm and suicide experienced by people in prison. Ultimately, the bottom line in prisons is that managing risk and maintaining security takes priority – if prisoners are required to all be ‘banged up’ in their cells, research cannot take place. Rather than be a deterrent, risk associated with prisons makes it ever-the-more important to establish what works best to support prisoners through research. Just as high levels of research involvement in other settings, such as NHS trusts, is associated with better patient outcomes, my anecdotal experience would be that involving prisoners in research can benefit all involved.
On a personal level, I feel privileged to have spent time hearing the stories of prisoners and working with PROSPECT. I know I’ll be sincerely looking forward to hearing the outcomes of the trial in the future!
About Jon Sissons:
Jon is a full time Research Assistant Psychologist working for Greater Mental Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust at the Suicide Risk and Safety Research unit on the PROSPECT trial. He has worked as an Assistant Clinical Research Practitioner at the Psychosis Research Unit, as a Student Research Manager at the Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust as well as a Mental Health Support Worker. He will be moving on to start a new role as an Assistant Psychologist with the Northern Gambling Service.
Jon attend the University of Leeds for both his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Psychology and through this, published work in Autism journal. Jon’s role in PROSPECT was primarily to help set up the trial in Yorkshire prisons, recruit participants and complete initial assessments with participants.
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