The first step in understanding the mental health situation in a prison is to ask prisoners their views on their needs and how these might be met. For example, conversations with prisoners may reveal problems they are facing. The opportunity to talk about a concern may be enough to relieve stress and staff may also be able to provide solutions. • Build rapport with prisoners, using positive body and verbal language. • Engage prisoners in meaningful conversations and listen to their problems and concerns. • Be alert to warning signs of mental ill-health, including sudden changes in moods and behaviour, and share information with colleagues. Understand the problem When prison staff understand the causes and consequences of mental ill-health they are in a better position to understand the impact on prisoners. Thorough and regular needs and risks assessments, individualised sentence planning, appropriate security classification and good record-keeping will help prison staff understand and respond to specific risks and triggers. • Talk to prison healthcare staff and mental health professionals about mental ill-health, and read available information about prisoner mental health. • Talk to prisoners with mental ill-health to understand how their condition impacts them and what can be done to improve their situation. • Request training on mental ill-health. Promising practice: Samaritans’ prison Listener scheme The Listener scheme is a peer support service which aims to reduce suicide and self-harm in prisons in England, Scotland and Wales. The Samaritans organisation selects, trains and supports prisoners to become Listeners. Listeners provide confidential emotional support to fellow prisoners who are struggling to cope. At the end of 2015, there were 1,803 active prison Listeners.20 23