The mental health of staff working in UK prisons during the Covid‐19 pandemic

Abstract

This article presents the results of an opportunistic, cross-sectional, self-report survey of the well-being of staff working in prisons throughout the UK. The survey was completed by 594 participants in the early part of 2021 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Self-report measures indicated concerning levels of burnout and 43.4% of participants were above the established cut-offs on the Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale. Eighty-one per cent reported that their mental and physical health had deteriorated and many said emotional support was lacking. Further research is required to establish how typical and persistent these concerns are.