This discussion will survey various types of substance use disorders and the secondary mental disorders that can result after these substances are used. We will consider how the abuse of a particular substance can lead to a secondary disorder that can persist even after the primary addiction is treated. We will review common sleep disorders related to drug and alcohol use as well.

Educational Objectives

• Present the common substance induced psychiatric disorders in correctional settings in the researched literature.
• Review and discuss secondary symptoms related to these disorders as potential treatment targets.
• Discuss methods to incorporate the information learned from this presentation into the participant's handling and recognition of sleep related chief complaints.

This presentation will examine the past 10 years of data relating to suicides among incarcerated individuals, with special emphasis on the period since the beginning of the pandemic. We will explore historic and emerging types of claims brought against correctional mental health care staff after a patient suicide, including how statistical evidence is being used in discovery and allowed at trial. Finally, we will discuss the role this information plays in the valuation of a suicide case.

Educational Objectives

• Compare claims involving suicides in the incarcerated population versus in the community
• Discuss how the increase in suicidality is changing claims and allegations
• Examine how statistics and jurors' personal experience can impact the valuation of correctional suicide cases

Anxiety related symptoms are among the most common behavioral health symptoms experienced by individuals who are incarcerated. This presentation will explore the distinction between temporary reactions related to an individual's incarceration experience and symptoms that rise to a clinically significant impairment in functioning. Therapeutic and pharmacological interventions for anxiety and panic symptoms will be discussed for anxiety symptoms at all levels.

Educational Objectives

• Differentiate between various DSM-5 anxiety based disorders
• Recognize unique correctional factors that contribute to anxiety symptoms
• Create collaborative programming efforts to reduce anxiety triggers and symptoms

While representing a disproportionate percentage of the incarcerated population, minority individuals often face barriers to accessing and receiving effective mental health care within correctional settings. This workshop will delve into the complex dynamics of cultural competency in treating mental health issues in minority populations during incarceration.

Educational Objectives

• Explain the complex needs of minority populations in correctional settings
• Identify the skills needed to provide culturally competent mental health care
• Demonstrate increased awareness of implicit bias and its impact on treatment

Explore vital self-care strategies to mitigate burnout in corrections settings. Emphasizing the significance of decompression spaces, the presentation delves into creating supportive networks with colleagues. Attendees will learn practical techniques, including mindfulness and deep breathing tools, crucial for maintaining mental well-being in the challenging environment of corrections. Discover how fostering a culture of self-care can enhance resilience and promote a healthier work-life balance for professionals in the corrections field.

Educational Objectives 

• Discuss the importance of maintaining a healthy mental well-being as a correctional health professional 
• Practice self-care techniques to mitigate burnout    
• Describe how a culture of self-care can enhance resilience

The prevalence of opioid use in correctional facilities presents multifaceted challenges, including addiction treatment access, overdose risk, increased institutional violence and the complex intersection of public health and criminal justice. Increasing Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) programs in jails and prisons will reduce recidivism rates among incarcerated individuals with substance use disorders by providing comprehensive addiction care, thus improving post-release reintegration, and lowering societal costs associated with repeated incarcerations.

Educational Objectives 

• Discuss a MAT program’s role in reducing substance use disorders in correctional settings
• Identify the relationship between mental health, pain, and substance use disorders
• Explain clinical practices for implementing MOUD in a correctional setting

For 10 years the speaker has worked with gender dysphoric patients and has conducted over 200 assessments of transgender people. This experience has provided a wealth of information, useful approaches, metrics, and phrasing for working with these patients. Attendees will learn how to assess, monitor, and provide a therapeutic experience for their gender dysphoric patients.

Educational Objectives

• Review how to assess gender dysphoria
• Describe how to monitor symptoms of gender dysphoria
• Discuss how to determine the course of action for treatment

The presentation describes cases involving a competent clinical assessment of suicide risk during which the patient assured the clinician that they were not thinking of harming or killing themselves, yet within seven days committed suicide. The correctional clinician who experiences a "lethal suicide denier" should expect criticism and questioning. The presenters will discuss how humility and recognizing our lack of omniscience is the best strategy in the event of a law suit or other consequences. 

Educational Objectives:

• Discuss the reality of false negatives in suicide prediction and prevention
• Describe the limits of behavioral predictions concerning suicidality
• Identify ways to cope with an investigation or lawsuit resulting from a false negative assessment for acute suicide

This presentation will address the importance - and challenges - of developing effective, responsive quality indicators to assess the efficacy of trauma interventions in women to reduce recidivism and overall health inequalities. When successful, quality indicators also provide a way to improve staff burnout, depression, and PTSD. Attendees will learn how small quality improvement steps can rejuvenate staff, support recovery, and improve long-term quality.

Educational Objectives

• Discuss the link between quality indicators, service provision, client recovery, and reduction of staff burnout
• Identify key steps in creating correctional health care quality indicators, including client voice and choice
• Analyze positive outcomes for clients and facility staff when quality indicators are used

Crises are acute periods of time causing intense escalation of emotion and often an overwhelming urge to resolve the situation quickly. These crises have a high potential for very negative outcomes and creating additional problems Clients who are prone to emotion dysregulation often find themselves in crisis situations. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is uniquely good at treating emotion dysregulation as well as quickly developing skills to help clients tolerate crises situations without making their problems worse. This session will briefly introduce DBT and crisis survival skills and when to use them. 

Educational Objectives

• Name the four core modules of DBT skills training
• Describe the mammalian dive response and how to activate it
• Explain how to coach the effective use of paced breathing

The speaker will present an overview of legal protections afforded to incarcerated mental health patients, and will delve deeper into the topics of involuntary medication and hospitalization, security of mental health records and other information, capacity v. competency, and the proper use and role of legal guardians. The aim is to expand participants' understanding of the risks and best practices for correctional mental health care.

Educational Objectives:

• Review federal and state laws governing involuntary medication and hospitalization
• Compare the role of physicians in determining capacity to the court's function of ruling on competency
• Explore when a health care guardian is needed and how to obtain one when no family members volunteer

This presentation explores how the work environment affects the mental health of correctional officers and the facilitators and barriers to promoting mental wellness in correctional settings. An examination of the current mental health of correctional officers, specifically focusing on race and gender, burnout, and sleep patterns will be discussed.

Educational Objectives

• Describe the barriers and facilitators associated with poor mental health and sleep among correctional officers.
• Evaluate the impact of the work environment on the mental health of Black and female correctional officers
• Propose the hierarchy of controls framework as a pathway to promote a safer work environment for police officers.

This session describes a mental health intervention to dissuade youth in juvenile institutions from genital piercing practice (GPP) due to infections, bleedings, and hospitalizations. The team developed educational materials to share the facts and consequences of GPP and conducted a study to measure the intervention’s effectiveness. After the intervention, youth knowledge of GPP increased approximately 25%. The study provided new information about GPP and will serve as a basis for clinical and mental health staff to pursue further research to promote cessation of GPP.

Educational Objectives

• Describe the use and risks of genital piercings
• Identify the perspective of youth who practice genital piercing
• Explain interdisciplinary strategies to promote the cessation of genital piercing

NCCHC's standard on Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) is a requirement of any correctional health care program. Historically, CQI efforts focused on medical aspects of health care. But finding opportunities for improvement in behavioral health programs is equally important. The CQI process is also frequently misunderstood resulting in deficiencies in one or more compliance indicators. This session covers the requirements of a robust CQI program that meets NCCHC standards and applies it to mental health programs.

Educational Objectives

• Review requirements of NCCHC Standard A-06 Continuous Quality Improvement
• Discuss ways to incorporate quality improvement into behavioral health programs
• Describe a mental health quality improvement project from the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex

Correctional stress happens to us physically and emotionally when work exposes us to distressing situations. Even on a good day, it is a serious hazard for staff working in corrections. The pandemic and other national events have unbalanced our lives. Recognizing how these events impact chronic stress exposure will help staff maintain the high judgment necessary to optimally cope. The speaker will explore these risks and share ways to reduce the impact through life-balancing techniques.

Educational Objectives:

• Discuss correctional stress and its impact in today's environment
• Explore correctional stress as an occupational risk
• Identify choices for stress prevention and intervention

Youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are more likely to be involved in the juvenile justice system. These youth are more likely to experience challenges with interpersonal relationships, problem solving, behavior and emotion regulation, adaptive behaviors, and effective communication of their needs. This presentation will provide guidance on ways to better serve this population and promote better outcomes.

Educational Objectives:

• Recognize common characteristics of intellectual and developmental disabilities that indicate a need for treatment adaptations and intensive and individualized services
• Review possible accommodations and adaptations that can be implemented, in therapy and the milieu, to better meet the needs of youth with IDD
• Discuss how to advocate for the needs of youth with IDD and encourage the destigmatization of necessary accommodations

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), also known as tapping, is an energy psychology practice that combines cognitive restructuring, exposure therapy, and acupressure stimulation (tapping various points on the body) to bring about rapid change within the nervous system. The discussion will examine the trauma tapping program in the Chesterfield County Jail. Participants will learn to tap and leave with a new understanding of mental health through a different lens.

Educational Objectives

• Describe what tapping is and how it relates to trauma and the nervous system
• Explain the science of tapping and why it is effective
• Discuss the benefits of tapping for incarcerated patients

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment modality with proven effectiveness for a wide variety of mental health and behavioral issues. DBT was created to treat Borderline Personality, but has been shown efficacious for self-harm, suicidal ideations, PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and impulsive and aggressive behaviors, etc. Skills can also be added to cadet and deputy annual trainings to improve communication between staff and justice-involved populations.

Educational Objectives

• Review the DBT fundamental concepts and skills
• Discuss how DBT can improve suicidal and impulsive behaviors and reduce communication barriers between staff and patients
• Summarize ways to implement DBT in working with justice-involved population and staff