Case Study: The importance of contact for families affected by imprisonment
My brother has been in prison for a couple of years now and has always struggled with his mental health. I worry about him a lot, especially when I don’t hear from him for a while.
Mental health can affect people in so many different ways. Sometimes, if my brother is struggling, he might not feel like reaching out and then I don’t hear from him for a long time. It is a horrible feeling, not knowing when you’ll hear from him again – guessing everyday what is going on and whether he’s okay…
You can feel powerless. He’s in prison – there’s only so much I can do to help him. And it starts to affect your own mental health. You are worrying all the time. It doesn’t stop. You get used to the worry after a while, but that doesn’t make it easier. It doesn’t just go away.
During a rocky period, I’ve found that it is really important to remember to do things for yourself and to pursue your own interests. I like to listen to music and read about history. It can help to take my mind off things a bit.
Most of all, Families Outside have been a lifeline. Just having someone to speak to about what I’m going through has been so helpful. And they can support me in supporting my brother and help me to get in contact with him, or with the prison, if I have any concerns about him. Having that link has been a godsend; I would recommend it to anyone who has family in prison.
Mental health is a very important issue, and it seems like we are just starting to realise it. And the wellbeing of families and of people in prison are closely linked.
At Families Outside we understand the importance of family contact for maintaining family connections and the impact that this can have on families’ mental wellbeing. We are here to support anyone who is struggling with this.
If you need support you can reach out to our non-judgemental Support & Information Helpline.