Health service contacts for mental health and substance use on release from prison: a retrospective population-based data linkage study

Improved post-release mental health and substance use care is vital for individual and public health. Despite elevated rates of contact with community mental health and substance use services, people released from prison have disproportionately high rates of contact with emergency and unscheduled care services. This suggests that early support is either inadequate or not accessed by those in greatest need.Policymakers and service providers should consider investment in tailored transitional and post-release intervention at individual and population level, to improve health and thus prevent later high-cost service use and avoidable mortality. Our results also suggest high-quality care must be available and accessible beyond the immediate post-release period to permit sustained engagement or engagement at a later date.