Mindfulness Skills Training for Ex-convicts
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial explores whether mindfulness skills training, called "Wellbeing Skills for Reentry," can improve mental health for individuals transitioning back to the community after incarceration. The researchers aim to determine if this program reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression and if participants find it easy to engage with. Participants will either join a mindfulness skills training group or be placed on a waitlist for the training. This trial suits adults who are former inmates and are comfortable with English. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative mental health solutions for community reintegration.
What prior data suggests that this mindfulness skills training is safe for ex-convicts?
Research shows that mindfulness programs are generally safe for participants, including those in the justice system. Studies on mindfulness for young people in this setting have found no major safety issues. Most participants handle these programs well, with few reports of negative effects.
Mindfulness training teaches people to focus on the present moment, which can help reduce anxiety and depression. Since it involves learning mental skills instead of taking medication, the risks are low. The main challenge is whether participants find the program easy to follow and useful. Overall, mindfulness programs are considered safe and helpful for improving mental health.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores the potential of mindfulness skills training to support ex-convicts as they reenter society. Unlike traditional treatments that often focus on medication or therapy for mental health and addiction issues, this approach emphasizes personal well-being and mindfulness techniques. These skills can empower individuals to better manage stress, improve emotional regulation, and enhance their overall quality of life, which are critical factors for successful reintegration. By focusing on self-awareness and mental resilience, this method offers a fresh perspective that could complement or enhance existing reentry support programs.
What evidence suggests that this mindfulness program is effective for improving mental health in ex-convicts?
This trial will compare the effects of wellbeing skills training with a waitlist control group. Research has shown that learning mindfulness skills can improve mental health for people in prison. Studies have found that mindfulness programs help reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. In one study, participants in mindfulness sessions reported feeling less stressed and more at peace. Another study suggested that mindfulness training could lead to less severe substance use after participants are released. Overall, these findings suggest that mindfulness skills training might help people handle the challenges of returning to the community.23678
Who Is on the Research Team?
Dan Grupe, PhD
Principal Investigator
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for English-speaking adults aged 18 or older who have been formerly incarcerated and can provide informed consent. It's designed to help them after they've returned to the community.Inclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants in the mindfulness group attend weekly mindfulness classes for 6 weeks
Post-Treatment Assessment
Participants complete a set of questionnaires after the conclusion of the mindfulness classes
Follow-up
Participants complete a set of questionnaires and an interview 2 months after the conclusion of the mindfulness classes
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Wellbeing skills for reentry
Trial Overview
The study tests if a mindfulness skills training program helps with anxiety and depression in ex-convicts. Participants are either placed in the program or on a waitlist, with outcomes compared after six weeks of classes and again two months later.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Lead Sponsor
Citations
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Prison: Experiences ...
The present study investigated feasibility and effectiveness of mindfulness intervention in a prison context, in both a qualitative and quantitative fashion.
2.
nationalreentryresourcecenter.org
nationalreentryresourcecenter.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/Look%20Beyond%20Recidivism_March%2029%202023.pdfMeasuring Reentry Success Beyond Recidivism
This brief explores the limitations of recidivism as a measure of reentry success and why other outcomes should be measured. It identifies alternative outcome.
3.
nij.ojp.gov
nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/looking-beyond-recidivism-new-research-well-being-prisons-and-jails-nationalLooking Beyond Recidivism: New Research on Well-Being in ...
Tripodi found that eight months after leaving prison, men who had finished 15 RISE sessions had less severe substance use and were less likely ...
Education and Vocational Training in Prisons Reduces ...
Those who participated in vocational training were 28 percent more likely to be employed after release from prison than who did not receive such ...
Community reentry program characteristics associated with ...
This retrospective cohort study examines associations between participation in Missouri's Community Reentry Initiative (CRI) and reentry outcomes.
Mindfulness-based interventions for youth in the criminal ...
This article reviews the research-based literature on the use of mindfulness-based interventions for youths (aged 13 to 24 years) involved in the justice ...
7.
csgjusticecenter.org
csgjusticecenter.org/publications/evidence-based-promising-programs-practices-support-parents-incarcerated/Evidence-Based and Promising Programs and Practices to ...
A cognitive-behavioral parenting skills training program developed for parents who are incarcerated, this program focuses on equipping parents with skills in ...
The Skill Sets and Health Care Needs of Released Offenders
This is generally true of academic instruction, vocational training, cognitive skills, sex offender programs, and substance abuse interventions.
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