PTSD is one of the most common disorders in the prison population. Mental health advocates are starting to acknowledge that the trauma of incarceration itself may make some people more likely to develop PTSD.

What is sometimes called “post-incarceration syndrome” is not recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the authoritative source used by psychologists and health care professionals to diagnose mental health disorders. But much research supports the strong link between incarceration and PTSD, and shows that incarceration-related PTSD is a discrete subtype of the disorder resulting from long imprisonment. Research has shown that even the children of incarcerated people are more likely to have PTSD than others.

The Department of Justice estimates that 70,000 prisoners are sexually abused every year. That’s nearly 1 in 20 people in prison. Other types of violence are also common in prison settings, and not just by other prisoners. I routinely hear verbal abuse, and even threats, at the hands of overworked staff. For the incarcerated, changes in behavior and mental health rarely receive a diagnosis, let alone needed treatment. Unfortunately, the vast majority of mental health issues while incarcerated often only get worse.