We believe that wellbeing support for young men and young Black men in prison should be prioritised and should be tailored to meet their specific needs.
Young people in prison have untapped potential, but have different needs to older people in prison, and are less likely to be able to access the support they need to flourish and build new lives. Therefore, we know that young people in prison have distinct needs that must be met to enable effective rehabilitation. Furthermore, we know that young Black men, who are over-represented in the prison system, also face particular barriers to their rehabilitation.
A new YouGov poll has revealed overwhelming public support for the campaign’s message. From more than 1,700 people surveyed, 72% think that, taking into account all the different priorities in the prison system, there should be specific support for prisoners’ mental health and wellbeing. It’s time.
The Being Well Being Equal campaign is calling for urgent action from the Government, prison policy-makers and practitioners to:
- Prioritise wellbeing services in prisons for young men and young Black men;
- Tailor wellbeing services to take into account and meet the specific needs of young men in prison and young Black men in prison;
- Provide better support and guidance for professionals in prison working with and caring for young men and young Black men.
Find out more and add your voice to the campaign now!
