The impact of COVID-19 on the mental well-being of prison officers in a developing country

Purpose

The literature on prison officers highlights the mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on prison staff. However, there is limited knowledge about how the pandemic affected prison officers’ mental health in the global south. To fill this void, this study aims to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the mental well-being of prison officers in a developing country.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey of 553 prison officers from 12 prison facilities in Ghana between August and December 2020 to examine their psychological and mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Culturally sensitive measures of mental well-being were utilised.

Findings

Over 50% of prison officers reported a wide range of psychological well-being issues such as depression, sleep disturbances, general anxiety and specific anxieties relating to contracting the virus and fears of infecting their families. Whilst 75% of prison officers indicated their need for psychological support, 61% preferred off-site psychological support, including telephone and online platforms (Zoom and WhatsApp) over face-to-face psychological support at work. Group differences were also found among prison officers based on gender and whether suspected cases of COVID-19 were reported at the prison they worked.

Originality/value

The findings underscore the need for carefully curated mental health interventions for prison officers that consider the working culture of officers’ work.