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Culture, Mental Illness, and Prison: A New Zealand Perspective

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Book cover Mental Health in Prisons

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Prisons and Penology ((PSIPP))

Abstract

As is true internationally, in New Zealand, cultural minorities are overrepresented in the prison population. Māori are the indigenous people of New Zealand (NZ) and are more commonly incarcerated (as are other ethnic minorities such as Pacific Islanders) when compared to Pakeha (NZ Europeans). This chapter will discuss the influence of colonisation and acculturation on these groups, in particular Māori, in order to better understand the relationship of culture on the interface of forensic mental health services and prisons systems. Despite a high prevalence of mental illness in prison, significant barriers exist to providing needed care to this population, related to correctional goals of punishment of offenders and lack of prioritisation of mental health. New Zealand prisons, in collaboration with forensic services, have implemented a mental health screen at prison reception, with specified compulsory referrals to forensic prison teams (whose membership include psychiatry, psychology, social work, nursing and cultural advisers). Forensic nurses then assess the need for psychiatric care or alternative services. Both cultural challenges and successes (including cultural healing collaboration with the forensic prison team) are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Mr. Tipene Paul (cultural advisor, Mason Clinic Forensic Prison Team) and the Taumata of Mason Clinic for endorsing the authors to write this chapter and providing cultural oversight and support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Auckland Regional Forensic Psychiatry Services, Auckland, New Zealand

    James Cavney

  2. University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Susan Hatters Friedman

  3. Case Western University, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Susan Hatters Friedman

Authors
  1. James Cavney
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  2. Susan Hatters Friedman
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to James Cavney .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Alice Mills

  2. Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

    Kathleen Kendall

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Cavney, J., Friedman, S.H. (2018). Culture, Mental Illness, and Prison: A New Zealand Perspective. In: Mills, A., Kendall, K. (eds) Mental Health in Prisons. Palgrave Studies in Prisons and Penology. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94090-8_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94090-8_9

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-94089-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-94090-8

  • eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)

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