Mental health of finnish prisoners: Results of a survey

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Abstract
The article deals with the previous use of psychiatric health services and self-perceived mental health in Finnish prisoners. It forms part of the health survey of Finnish prisoners (the WATTU project). The project dealt with a sample of 1,099 Finnish prisoners. An analysis of cases not included showed that the results can be generalized to all Finnish prisoners. Psychiatric outpatient services had been used previously by almost 75% of the women and just over 50% of the men (p < 0.05). Psychiatric hospital inpatient care had been received by 23% of the men and 30% of the women. Physician-prescribed medication for a nervous disorder was being received currently by 24% of the women and 9% of the men (p < 0.01). Clearly treatment services had been utilized more commonly by prisoners than by the general population. Likewise mental symptoms were experienced more commonly by prisoners.