The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) - Service correctionnel du Canada

Introduction
Mental health problems among offenders are of increasing concern for the
Correctional Service of Canada (CSC). Between the time period of March 1997 and March
2008, the percentage of in-custody male offenders identified at intake as having a past mental
health diagnosis almost doubled from 10% to 18% (CSC, 2008). Similarly, the proportion
with a current diagnosis increased from 7% to 13% and the proportion currently prescribed
medication for mental health issues increased from 9% to 21% (CSC, 2008). Recent rates
are even higher for women. The percentage of women offenders with past mental health
diagnoses rose from 20% to 31%, while the percentage with a current diagnosis at intake
increased from 13% to 24%, and the rate of women offenders currently prescribed
medication escalated from 34% to 46% (CSC, 2008). Even higher rates of psychiatric
disorders in prison populations have been quoted in some studies where lifetime prevalence
rates have ranged from 64% to 81% (Brinded, Simpson, Laidlaw, Fairley, & Malcolm, 2001;
Diamond,Wang, Holzer, Thomas, & Cruser, 2001; Jordan, Schlenger, Fairbank, & Cadell,
1996).
The forgoing statistics show an increasing challenge related to mental health for
correctional systems such as the Correctional Service of Canada. The CSC data, however, are
based on simple questions asked of offenders about their current and past mental health status
as part of the case analysis process when they are admitted into the federal correctional
system. The results are useful for tracking general trends, but not particularly useful for
determining who requires immediate detailed assessment or for guiding intervention
strategies. The development of a mental health screening tool for offenders entering the
federal correctional system is needed to ensure that offenders who require mental health
services are appropriately identified and referred. Due to the large number of offenders who
are processed at CSC reception institutions each year (4,996 new federal warrants of
committal for a 12 month period from 2008-2009), a standardised nationally implemented,
computer-based screening system that is valid and practical for brief initial screening may be
the most effective approach. As a result, CSC developed the Computerized Mental Health
Intake Screening System (CoMHISS) in order to address this need.
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