Stand T.A.L.R

Stand T.A.L.R (Talk, Ask, Listen, Refer) focuses on openly addressing and reducing the stigma, and culture of silence associated with correctional staff who may experience poor mental health at some time during their career. 

Stand T.A.L.R promotes:

· The Empowering of staff to play an active role in addressing their own mental health challenges through individual responsibility, support of others including colleagues and family members.

· Normalises the topic of poor mental health among correctional staff.

· Instils a culture of acceptance within the prison and home environments.

Stand T.A.L.R is delivered in an engaging, raw, open and honest style which includes a dynamic mix of humour and enthusiasm with a direct and frank conversation about mental health specific to correctional staff. At times, the content can be challenging, yet a true and honest conversation about exactly what it is to suffer from poor mental health as a correctional employee is exactly what this space requires. 

Stand T.A.L.R was created by education and correctional professionals who have worked within the prison system, all contributors have hands-on practical prison experience and have been exposed to the unique pressures of correctional environment. All content and information used throughout Stand T.A.L.R has been gathered from Australian leading mental health organisations; this information coupled with contextualised knowledge combines to create the foundation of the program. 

Stand T.A.L.R provides correctional staff with clear directions and practical steps to follow in the event that they, their colleagues or most importantly, members of their family require immediate professional mental health support. The objective is to reduce rates of depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol use, family breakdown or divorce and ultimately suicide.

REACH 

Stand T.A.L.R was introduced to the Western Australian prison system in November 2017 and has since been delivered to over 7000 correctional staff across Australia, New Zealand, and the United States of America. The WA Prison Officers’ Union have presented Stand T.A.L.R at:

• The 2018 Prison Officers Association of Australasia conference held in Auckland

• The 2018 Public Service Association Mental Health Seminar held in Sydney

• The 2018 Community and Public Sector Union Annual Federal Council Meeting held in Melbourne.

• The 2019 Prison Officers Association of Australasia conference held in Sydney

• The 2022 Prison Officers Association of Australasia conference held in Melbourne

• The 2023 One Voice United Medal of Honour Awards Ceremony / Conference held in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The New Zealand Department of Corrections through the Corrections Associations of New Zealand have implemented Stand T.A.L.R nationally. Stand T.A.L.R is delivered in all New Zealand prisons and also features in the Your Mental Health Matters Strategic Mental Health Plan 2018. Correctional jurisdictions from all Australian states and territories have implemented or are currently implementing Stand T.A.L.R. By the end of 2023, there will be over 100 Stand TALR facilitators within prisons located on the east coast of Australia. 

CONTEXTUALISATION 

Stand T.A.L.R is contextualised to each individual prison or detention centre. Contextualisation ensures the program has the greatest impact for the staff at that particular facility. The stigma of mental health in prions for correctional staff is discussed, statistics and figures are taken from the prison and applied specifically to the staff in room for maximum understanding. 

Mental illness is compared to other diseases and illness people are more familiar with for comparison purposes and mental health disorders are clearly and simply defined. Examples of behaviours and habits linked to poor mental health are explored, prison specific risk factors are discussed and the impact these may have on family and friends at home. Stand T.A.L.R specifically addresses stress, anxiety, depression and suicide.  The importance of internal resilience is addressed as well as the influence of social media and external appearances as a barrier to recognising poor mental health in others. 

Stand T.A.L.R is flexible and dynamic. To ensure effectiveness and staff engagement, the program is completely customisable to your needs, based on your location, your governing department, your staff Employee Assistance Providers and even the specific prison location the program is delivered in. The overall integrity and message of the program remains the same and is applicable to all correctional jurisdictions. The key to deep and meaningful staff engagement is specific contextualisation of the program and overall content, working within a prison environment is very unique, so should the training for staff. 

RESULTS

Statistical information provided by the Western Australian Department of Justice regarding correctional staff engagement with the Employee Assistance Provider demonstrated 6.38% of staff contact the EAP for professional psychological assistance in the months leading up to the implementation of Stand T.A.L.R. 6 months after implementation the percentage of engagement increased to 8.17% which was the highest percentage of engagement with the EAP since July 2014. 

QLD Correctional Officer January 2020:

“This was the best training I have ever seen in my 30 years in the job.”

VIC Correctional Officer February 2020:

“In 16 years, this is the best training for staff I have ever seen.”

Victorian Assistant Commissioner February 2020:

“Profound” “Tremendous”

QLD Director of Wellbeing, Safety and Culture

“The feedback from staff is unbelievable.”

NZ Correctional Officer November 2019:

“The best thing in prisons since they put bars on the windows.”