38120 Caring For Incarcerated Individuals: HIV/AIDS, LGBTQIA Issues, and Mental Health Considerations

Course overview

Discussion of HIV in the prison system, including statistics and trends related to incarceration in the United States and around the world, major mental health diagnoses and other common issues that are seen in prison systems, and how to best approach individuals affected by mental health issues in prison. The U.S. incarcerates more people per capita than any other nation, with nearly 2.3 million individuals being held in jails, prisons, and other correctional facilities. Mental health conditions and issues related to the LGBTQIA population, including HIV and AIDS, are very common in correctional facilities. These facilities and employees often struggle to meet the needs of the increasing number of inmates who suffer from these issues. Nurses and other workers in the criminal justice setting must be aware of the many issues faced by incarcerated individuals, as well as how to best manage these situations in order for better outcomes to be achieved for these inmates. This program discusses the prevalence of incarceration in the U.S., common issues related to certain incarcerated populations, and strategies and techniques to help manage issues faced by these individuals.