Helena D. Lewis

Reentry, Grief and Loss: Addressing Unmet Mental Health Needs of Women Offenders​

In this MMP, experiencing the loss of a loved one under any circumstances can be challenging. For women who are incarcerated the outward expression of grief and emotion is often suppressed due to fear of receiving sanctions and being placed in restrictive housing. This workshop discusses the lived experiences of formerly incarcerated women who have experienced the loss of a loved one while incarcerated, and ways to implement program services to address the gender-specific needs of incarcerated women experiencing grief.