Mental Health in the Margins
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which means for the past four or five weeks we’ve seen all the usual posts: green ribbons, mental health stats, and calls to check on your strong friends. And I’m glad. Mental health deserves the spotlight.
But as we work to destigmatize mental health struggles and advocate for better access to care, I can’t help but think about the people who are still left out of the conversation—those living and working inside our jails and prisons.
Incarcerated learners, and the correctional staff who support them, often live in what I call the “margins” of mental health conversations. They’re not at the table when we talk about wellness apps, therapy access, or mental health days. Yet they’re some of the folks who need support the most.
Let’s start with the students.
Many incarcerated people come into custody with long-standing, untreated mental health challenges—trauma, depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, you name it. Add to that the stressors of incarceration: isolation, powerlessness, the constant surveillance, the sound of doors locking behind you. It’s a mental health minefield.
And here’s what we do in the correctional classroom: we ask people to engage, focus, reflect, manage frustration, stay seated, work in groups, and learn. All while their nervous systems are in overdrive. If you’re an educator, you know this isn’t just about curriculum—it’s about co-regulation, de-escalation, and understanding that behavior is communication.
Now let’s talk about the staff.
Correctional educators, like our custody colleagues, are navigating their own stressors. Tight deadlines, inconsistent schedules, frequent lockdowns, and the emotional weight of the work can wear down even the most resilient among us. Burnout is real. So is compassion fatigue. And yet, many of us feel like we can’t afford to acknowledge our own mental health needs—because if we fall apart, who’s left standing?
So what would support look like?
It starts with systems, not just slogans.
For students, that means:
Access to trauma-informed instruction
Opportunities for reflection, art, journaling, and expression
Behavioral health supports that aren’t just punitive
Programs that teach emotional regulation, like Thinking for a Change, Roca’s Rewire CBT, or reentry-focused modules that include wellness strategies
For staff, support might look like:
Peer support groups or confidential mental health check-ins
Training on secondary trauma and how to manage it
Leaders who model vulnerability, not just toughness
Policies that recognize the emotional labor of the job
Mental health in corrections can’t be an afterthought. It can’t live in the margins. When we invest in mental wellness—for students and staff—we’re not just making people feel better. We’re creating safer environments. We’re improving outcomes. We’re building communities that don’t have to keep coming back through the revolving door.
So now the Mental Health Awareness month has passed us by, let’s keep talking about mental health. and widen the lens.
Because the margins are full of people who matter. And they deserve to be seen.
☕ Until next Sunday, keep drinking that coffee (or whatever beverage gets you going, gives you comfort, or brings you joy). See you then!
P.S. If you’re looking to dig deeper into mental health support in correctional settings—or bring resources into your own work—here are a few places to start:
For Incarcerated Learners:
“Healing Trauma: A Brief Intervention for Women” (Stephanie Covington)
Trauma-informed curriculum tailored for justice-involved women, with versions also available for men and adolescents.“Pathways to Wellness” (The Lionheart Foundation)
A free emotional literacy and resilience-building program used in prisons and jails, available in print and digital formats.**“InsideOut Dad®” and “One Circle Foundation” Programs
While primarily focused on parenting and social-emotional learning, these evidence-based programs integrate reflection and self-regulation components that support mental wellness.
For Correctional Educators and Staff:
National Institute of Corrections (NIC) – Staff Wellness Resources
Offers free online courses and toolkits on vicarious trauma, resilience, and building peer support inside facilities.
https://nicic.govCorrectional Leaders Association (CLA) – Wellness Commitments
Guidance and practices for agencies looking to improve staff wellness and support cultures of care.
https://www.correctionalleaders.comSAMHSA’s GAINS Center for Behavioral Health and Justice Transformation
Offers training and technical assistance to expand trauma-informed approaches and behavioral health services in correctional settings.
https://www.samhsa.gov/gains-center
For Everyone:
Mental Health America – Screening Tools and Awareness Materials
Includes self-assessments, infographics, and toolkits for Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond.
https://mhanational.orgThe Trevor Project (LGBTQ youth support, including justice-involved populations)
https://www.thetrevorproject.org
