Male prisoners’ constructions of help-seeking
| Pages | 46-57 |
| Date | 04 February 2014 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-01-2013-0005 |
| Published date | 04 February 2014 |
| Author | Samantha Cobb,Jacqui Farrants |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Forensic practice |
Male prisoners’ constructions
of help-seeking
Samantha Cobb and Jacqui Farrants
Dr Samantha Cobb is a
Researcher and Dr Jacqui
Farrants is a Supervisor, both
are based at Department of
Psychology, City University,
London, UK.
Abstract
Purpose – Help-seeking behaviours are fundamental to mental health and well-being. This study is
concerned with how male prisoners talk about help-seeking in order that treatment programmes can be
developed that better address their needs. The purpose of this paper is to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach – Informed by Foucauldian and Social Constructionist philosophies,
this discourse analysis draws on the interview transcripts of nine male prisoners, looking at the discursive
constructions mobilised in relation to help-seeking and the implications these have for agency.
Findings – Three overarching discourses are identified: “man-up and deal with it”,“solidarity”and
“authoritarian”. Prisoners resist formal help because of a perceived injustice in the system, disrespect for
staff and feeling helpless when they are “bombarded with medication to keep quiet”. When they do engage
with formal help-seeking behaviours it is frequently “to work the system”. Generally, they aremore motivated
to engage with informal help-seeking behaviours with each other,learning the knowledge like “a taxi driver”
and sharing it with fellow prisoners although, for some, expressing emotion is like “an episode of Eastenders
[y] like a girlie programme”.
Research limitations/implications – The qualitative nature of the analysis requires certain discourses to
be privileged over others, acknowledging that there is no one truth. Further research is needed to explore
informal sources of help-seeking within the prison population.
Practical implications – There is a need to develop treatment programmes that promote informal
help-seeking strategies and work with prisoners in a facilitative rather than coercive manner.
Originality/value – To privilege the voices of prisoners.
Keywords Foucault, Help-seeking, Discourse analysis, Male prisoners, Social constructionist
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
With the increasing prevalence of mental illness in the prison population there is an urgent need
to examine the ways in which male prisoners access help, either from professional healthcare
providers, prison officers or each other. This study is interested in understanding how prisoners
construct “help-seeking” in order that the provision of care and treatment is effective and is
planned and delivered in ways that are accessible to this vulnerable population.
Help-seeking generally refers to “the act of seeking hel p from somebody, through communication,
in order to obtain help, advice, information and support in relation to a problem or distressing
experience” (Rickwood et al., 2005, p. 460).It is thought to be a highly adaptive “style” ofcoping
with adversity, having a positive impact across the life span. It has been defined as a “complex
and dynamic process involving help seekers, help providers, types of help requested and the
situations in which help is sought” (Addis and Mahalik, 2003, pp. 9-10). Rickwood et al. (2005)
identify two types of help-seeking: formal and informal. The former is sought from health
professionals trained in a particular area, e.g. psychologists and psychiatrists, and has been found
to provide protection from mental illness and suicide (Martin, 2002); the latter occurs within social
relationships between friends and family.
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JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PRACTICE
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VOL. 16 NO. 1 2014, pp. 46-57, CEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8794 DOI 10.1108/JFP-01-2013-0005
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