Ex-Inmates Battle Depression, PTSD: 'We're Doing OK'

Study finds formerly incarcerated Black men often mask mental health needs behind resilience and self-reliance.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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A study by postdoctoral fellow Helena Addison at Yale University interviewed 29 formerly incarcerated Black men living in Philadelphia about their mental health experiences. The men often described themselves as "good," "blessed," "at peace" or "doing OK," even though nearly all reported symptoms of depression, anxiety or PTSD. The study found that the men developed self-reliance and coping mechanisms during incarceration, but struggled to find support and express their emotions after release due to stigma and distrust of mental health services.

Why it matters

This research highlights how implicit bias and anti-Black racism shape the way mental health is assessed and treated, both in correctional facilities and in the community. It underscores the need for more culturally competent mental health services and support systems that address the unique challenges faced by formerly incarcerated Black men as they reintegrate into society.

The details

Addison's study found that most of the men described the mental health evaluations they received while incarcerated as merely "checking the boxes" rather than genuinely caring about their needs. Some were given diagnoses they didn't understand or believe. The men developed self-reliance and coping strategies like exercise, prayer, and educational programs during their time in prison, but struggled to find support and express their emotions after release due to stigma and distrust of mental health services. Nearly 70% of participants had used formal mental health services at some point, but many were mandated to do so or faced barriers like lack of neighborhood clinics and peer navigators.

  • The Tuskegee study was conducted by the U.S. federal government from 1932 to 1972.
  • The Holmesburg Prison experiments took place at a Philadelphia prison from the 1950s through the 1970s.
  • Wedge Recovery Centers, a Philadelphia staple, closed in May 2025 due to financial losses.

The players

Shawn

A man in his early 50s who spent 15 years in and out of prison.

Helena Addison

A postdoctoral fellow at Yale University who conducted the study on coping with the mental health effects of imprisonment among formerly incarcerated Black men.

Malcolm

A 62-year-old man who described how mental health evaluations in prison were dismissive.

John

A 29-year-old man who was diagnosed with PTSD but didn't take it seriously until he was incarcerated for a long period.

Ken

A 56-year-old man who said he learned to depend on himself while in prison.

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What they’re saying

“People can assess me, interview me, incarcerate me, observe me, and they can think they know what I need. And that can be an educated assessment, but at the end of the day, I live inside of this body, inside of this head. I know what I need.”

— Shawn, A man in his early 50s who spent 15 years in and out of prison (Mirage News)

“They'd listen. They'd ask the pertinent questions. Then they'd talk down to you. And then they forget all about you.”

— Malcolm, 62-year-old man (Mirage News)

“I didn't start understanding mental health and believing it until I was locked up for a long period of time. I started reading up on it and studying it. …That's how I started understanding therapy was important.”

— John, 29-year-old man (Mirage News)

“When you're in prison, you learn to depend on yourself.”

— Ken, 56-year-old man (Mirage News)

“[You've] let a lot of stuff build up and then [you'll] go outside and lash out on the first person you see. I'm getting more comfortable with expressing myself, whether it's to my mom or if it's to a friend.”

— David, 30-year-old man (Mirage News)

What’s next

Participants emphasized that speaking with people who shared similar experiences made it easier to express themselves and helped them navigate moments of distress. Communities can work together to reduce stigma around seeking mental health support and formal treatment, take expressions of mental distress from formerly incarcerated men seriously, and create spaces where they feel safe being vulnerable.

The takeaway

This study highlights the need for more culturally competent mental health services and support systems that address the unique challenges faced by formerly incarcerated Black men as they reintegrate into society. Increasing the visibility of neighborhood-based behavioral health services and integrating formerly incarcerated men as peer navigators can help build trust and reduce barriers to accessing care.