We've compiled top highlights from recent research, policy, and practice resources across the world for our latest IACFP International News summary. Our topics for January and February, 2025 include IACFP updates; member access to SAGE Journals; recent research, policy, and practice; and upcoming conferences.
International News
3rd Annual Mental Health-Substance Use Health Report Card
The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health issued the 3rd Annual Mental Health-Substance Use Health Report Card in January 2025. Findings that are particularly relevant for correctional psychology are the following:
“There is no health without mental health and substance use health. The results leave no room for complacency and Canadians have made their priorities clear:
- Governments must increase public investments to improve timely access to effective mental health and substance use health services.
- Hiring more mental health and substance use health providers is essential to address shortages and ensure Canadians get the help they need when they need it.
- Parity between mental health, substance use health and physical health services must be enshrined in federal legislation with targeted funding.”
BC Corrections and Indigenous Justice
As noted on their website, “BC (British Columbia) Corrections is committed to addressing the over-representation of Indigenous people in the justice system, transforming our organization and healing broken relationships. Indigenous people are nearly 6% of B.C.’s adult population, yet they are 36% of the individuals in our care in custody and 28% in the community.”
This organization works with Indigenous justice partners to create programs and policies that meet the needs of Indigenous individuals to support them to change their behaviour and help reduce the number of Indigenous people in the correctional system. Indigenous justice partners are trained to deliver two of BC Corrections’ core programs – Respectful Relationships and Substance Abuse Management – to support program delivery in a culturally relevant and safe manner.
The Indigenous Justice effort includes
- Improved understanding
- Indigenous Justice Program
- Indigenous Cultural Liaison in ten correctional centres
- Indigenous Justice Programs and Services
For more information on this targeted effort to address over-representation of indigenous people in the justice system, go to www2.gov.bc.ca. The continuum of services and the development of healing plans is noteworthy.
Joint Webinar: "Mental Health During the War in Ukraine: Challenges and Initiatives"
With speakers from the Ukrainian and Estonian National Psychological Associations, mental health experts from neighbouring countries, and representatives of EU-funded initiatives, the webinar highlighted both Ukrainian efforts and the collaborative support from other European nations in addressing the psychological toll of the conflict. By exploring the significant role of psychology in crisis situations, attendees gained insights into current practices and cross-border collaborations that foster mental health protection, encouraging knowledge exchange and partnerships that has applicability to correctional psychology.
The event, organised in two sessions (on 8 and 19 November), was a joint effort by the Estonian Union of Psychologists, the Ukrainian National Psychological Association, and the European Federation of Psychologists' Associations (EFPA), as part of the European Semester of Psychology in Estonia. For more information, access this link.
It aimed to raise awareness among mental health professionals, policymakers, and the wider public about ongoing initiatives to safeguard mental well-being in Ukraine and beyond.
Recordings and presentations of the sessions are available here:
Upcoming Conferences
NCCHC’s Spring Conference on Correctional Health Care, April 5-8
Schedule of Events:
- Saturday, April 5 – Preconference seminars
- Sunday, April 6 – Preconference seminars, CCHP exams, Exhibit Hall opening reception
- Monday – Tuesday, April 7-8 – Conference Sessions, Exhibit Hall
For more visit www.ncchc.org
The Fourth International Correctional Research Symposium 2025, May 13-15
IACFP is sponsoring this Symposium being held by the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) and the European Organisation for Prison and Correctional Services (Europris) for the fourth Correctional Research Symposium, hosted by the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS).
ICPA and EuroPris share the belief that quality research can help direct both the design and delivery of correctional services. The tradition of our Correctional Research Symposiums (CRSs) is an expression of that belief and an opportunity for researchers and practitioners to come together and discuss the challenges of getting from research to practice. Our fourth CRS will highlight a related belief; the fact that our rehabilitative efforts with justice-involved Individuals are not enough. We need to also engage with, be able to rely on, and steadily work to expand, support from the broader Ecosystem.
The Programme
The Symposium will be held at the ICC Belfast International Convention & Exhibition Centre. Symposium events are open to all attendees. In addition to the two-day Symposium, there will be a set of post-Symposium tours of prison and community facilities on the 16 May 2025.
- Tuesday 13 May: Registration and Welcome Reception
- Wednesday 14 May:Plenaries and Workshops
- Thursday 15 May:Plenaries and Workshops
- Friday 16 May: Facility Visits (Optional)
Accomodation
The CRS conference will be held at the Hilton Belfast, address 4 Lanyon Pl, Belfast BT1 3LP. May is a busy time in Belfast, so we strongly encourage participants to book their accommodation as soon as possible. We have secured discounted room prices at three hotels, including the Hilton Belfast, Clayton Hotel Belfast, Travelodge Belfast Central.
2025 IAFHMS Conference, June 24-26
The 2025 IAFHMS in-person conference will be held at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland from June 24 to 26, 2025, with post-conference workshops held on June 27, 2025. Conference registration includes catered lunch on June 25 and June 26, daily coffee breaks, as well as a welcome reception on the first evening.
For more information go to https://iafmhs.wildapricot.org/2025-registration
Correctional Mental Health Care Conference, July 20 @ 8:00 am-July 21 @ 5:00 pm
Two days of updates and best practices for correctional mental health care issues: juvenile, substance abuse, suicide prevention, trauma, self-care, and more. Plus the opportunity to take the CCHP and specialty exams on-site. Join us in San Francisco for a focused event for mental health leaders, clinicians, and administrators.
