The mental health of incarcerated individuals is a widely recognized public health issue, but little is known about the mental health status of the incarcerated individuals upon release. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders (SUDs) among incarcerated men scheduled to be released from jail soon.

We conducted a cross-sectional national survey from September 2020 to September 2022 across 26 jails (selected at random) in France. Each participant was interviewed within 30 days prior to their release via a structured questionnaire, including the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview.

A total of 579 individuals were included in the analysis (participation rate: 66.2%). The prevalence of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and psychotic episodes were 30.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 27.1%–34.6%), 28.7% (95% CI: 25.1%–32.5%), 11.1% (95% CI: 8.8%–13.9%), and 10.5% (95% CI: 8.3%–13.3%), respectively. Additionally, almost half of the individuals had an SUD, and dual disorders were identified in 21.9% (95% CI: 18.8%–25.5%) of the cases. The analysis of mental health care pathways raised questions about access to certain types of care, such as full-time psychiatric hospitalization while in prison, as well as questions about the continuity of care upon release.

This study shows that the mental health of incarcerated men who are scheduled to be released soon is precarious. Complex mental health problems, particularly dual disorders, are common and require better coordination between mental health care systems in prisons and the community.