School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada and the Collaborating Centre for Prison Health and Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Interdisciplinary Studies, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Int J Prison Health. 2021 Oct 18;17(3):206-216. doi: 10.1108/IJPH-09-2020-0069. Epub 2021 Feb 17.
Currently, people leaving prisons face concurrent risks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the overdose public health emergency. The closure or reduction of community services people rely on after release such as treatment centres and shelters has exacerbated the risks of poor health outcomes and harms. This paper aims to learn from peer health mentors (PHM) about changes to their work during overlapping health emergencies, as well as barriers and opportunities to support people leaving prison in this context.
DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The Unlocking the Gates (UTG) Peer Health Mentoring Program supports people leaving prison in British Columbia during the first three days after release. The authors conducted two focus groups with PHM over video conference in May 2020. Focus groups were recorded and transcribed, and themes were iteratively developed using narrative thematic analysis.
The findings highlighted the importance of peer health mentorship for people leaving prisons. PHM discussed increased opportunities for collaboration, ways the pandemic has changed how they are able to provide support, and how PHM are able to remain responsive and flexible to meet client needs. Additionally, PHM illuminated ways that COVID-19 has exacerbated existing barriers and identified specific actions needed to support client health, including increased housing and recovery beds, and tools for social and emotional well-being.
ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This study contributes to our understanding of peer health mentorship during the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of mentors. PHM expertise can support release planning, improved health and well-being of people leaving prison and facilitate policy-supported pandemic responses.
目前，刚出狱的人同时面临着 COVID-19 大流行和阿片类药物过量公共卫生紧急情况的风险。治疗中心和收容所以及其他社区服务机构的关闭或减少，加剧了他们健康状况恶化和受到伤害的风险。本文旨在了解同伴健康导师（PHM）在重叠的卫生紧急情况下工作的变化，以及在这种情况下支持出狱人员的障碍和机会。
设计/方法/方法：不列颠哥伦比亚省的“解锁大门”（UTG）同伴健康导师计划在被释放后的头三天为刚出狱的人提供支持。作者于 2020 年 5 月通过视频会议对 PHM 进行了两次焦点小组讨论。对焦点小组进行了录音和转录，并使用叙述性主题分析迭代开发主题。
研究结果强调了同伴健康导师对刚出狱人员的重要性。PHM 讨论了增加合作机会的方式，大流行如何改变他们提供支持的方式，以及 PHM 如何保持响应能力和灵活性以满足客户需求。此外，PHM 还说明了 COVID-19 如何加剧了现有的障碍，并确定了支持客户健康所需的具体行动，包括增加住房和康复床位，以及社会和情感福祉的工具。
原创性/价值：本研究从导师的角度为我们了解 COVID-19 大流行期间的同伴健康导师提供了帮助。PHM 的专业知识可以支持出狱计划，改善刚出狱人员的健康和福祉，并促进以政策为支持的大流行应对措施。
