Staying Engaged: Working with People with SMI and Criminal Involvement-View Presentation Slides

View Presentation Slides

Pdf Summary

The 2025 American Psychiatric Association provides an educational webinar titled "Staying Engaged: Working with People with SMI and Criminal Involvement," aimed at professionals working with individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) and a history of criminal involvement. The webinar offers continuing education credits in medicine, psychology, and social work. It includes materials like downloadable slides and enables captions for participants.<br /><br />Key speaker Debra A. Pinals, a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry with expertise in mental health and the criminal justice system, emphasizes three learning objectives: understanding treatment retention and co-occurring conditions among individuals with SMI, strategies to improve engagement, and experiences that facilitate patient support through transitions for better outcomes.<br /><br />The webinar references several studies exploring treatment challenges, including recidivism and treatment dropout rates. For instance, individuals with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders are at a higher risk of recidivism and treatment dropout. High-income countries witness a 30% dropout rate for these individuals, significantly impacting outcomes.<br /><br />Innovative approaches such as the Critical Time Intervention and Forensic Assertive Community Treatment are highlighted as effective methods for enhancing treatment engagement and reducing criminal recidivism. These interventions focus on community reintegration and support while addressing criminogenic risk factors.<br /><br />Furthermore, training underlines the importance of therapeutic alliances, shared decision-making, and comprehensive support systems that include family, community, and criminal justice partners to maintain engagement and provide continuity of care. It concludes by underscoring the complex challenges and the necessity of tailored strategies to foster involvement among individuals with SMI in the justice system. The webinar encourages ongoing dialogue and Q&A for continuous learning and problem-solving in this field.

Keywords

American Psychiatric Association

severe mental illness

criminal involvement

continuing education

Debra A. Pinals

treatment retention

co-occurring conditions

Critical Time Intervention

Forensic Assertive Community Treatment

therapeutic alliances