Institutionalization and Mental Illness

by Shawn K. Gomes

As a defendant, inmate, and patient who has experienced the judicial system, penal system, and mental health system for over 30 years, I have come to the conclusion, through experience and discussions with peers, that the majority of incarcerated individuals (including myself) suffer from some form of a mental illness.

Throughout these discussions, along with my experiences, I have learned that we as individuals were not born with such a defect.  Instead, somewhere along our trials and tribulations, we have experienced some type of drastic, dramatic experience that mentally altered us.  Some situations can occur that will place an individual in harm’s way and can have a serious detrimental effect on the individual most of his/her entire life – physical abuse, mental abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. In such a time, we need a support system to guide, address, resolve, and educate us on how to deal with the situation and any other future situations.

Here’s a metaphor – our emergency 9-1-1 system and its responders.  When an emergency occurs, we call 9-1-1 to resolve the problem.  The people who respond to the emergency are trained for such an incident.  This is called “protocol.”
In our own lives, we have all reached out to a family member or friend who has played the role of a personal 9-1-1 assistant, giving advice or helping to resolve issues.  But, far to often, our personal 9-1-1 assistants are lacking the knowledge to deal these situations.

These are the seeds of mental illness being planted.  Eventually, these seeds will blossom, developing into branches reaching into the swamps of drug, alcoholism, crime, police intervention, and (eventually) incarceration.
A mentally ill person does not realize he/she is suffering from mental illness.  The disease acts as a chameleon.  The sufferer will attempt to camouflage the disease unbeknown for as long as he/she can.
In the Department of Correction, there is no “meaningful” rehabilitation.  To me, it’s apparent that the judicial system, along with the Executive Department of Public Safety and the Executive Department of Public Health, has simply ignored the true issue of recidivism and mental illness.  Instead, these agencies are quick to blame the illness for the problem, instead of the cause.

It is a proven fact that the majority of individuals who suffer from mental illness are self-medicating with drugs and alcohol to treat their illness, and professionals are well aware that constant use will exasperate the illness.
I, along with many others, will be released from the D.O.C.  My release will be from a medium/maximum security facility.   I will still be suffering from mental illness at a “latent” stage.  I will not be able to adapt to society.  Due to the shock of release, I will develop an anti-social personality which will lead to depression, unemployment, drug/alcoholism, criminal behavior, and, again, imprisonment.

Shawn Gomes is an inmate in Old Colony Correctional Center, Bridgewater.