Dr. Stephanie Penney, a scientist with the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, is the only researcher to receive mental health-related funding through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)’s National Women’s Health Research Initiative. The three-year project, which focuses on the mental health needs of women involved in the forensic mental health and criminal justice systems, will support a much-underserved group and signals a needed shift toward equity, inclusion, and innovation in care provided in secure settings.
Addressing the complex and unmet needs of incarcerated women
In Canada, about 3,600 women are incarcerated on any given day—600 in federal prisons and 3,000 in provincial and territorial facilities—making up less than 10 percent of the overall prison population. Yet, Indigenous women are alarmingly overrepresented, accounting for nearly half of federally sentenced women. These women often face complex and overlooked mental health challenges, rooted in trauma and systemic marginalization. Incarcerated women also experience higher rates of physical health issues, such as sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancies, and the long-term effects of violence and substance use. Basic health needs—like menstrual care, contraception, and menopause support—remain underserved in correctional settings, with gender-specific health concerns still vastly under-researched.
Justice-involved women often face mental health issues that are more nuanced than those of men, with effects that ripple through families and communities. Incarceration disrupts family dynamics and deeply impacts children, perpetuating cycles of trauma. Given their unique and underserved mental health needs, gender-responsive care is not just more appropriate—it is crucial for supporting these women and fostering healthier, more resilient communities.
National Women's Health Research Initiative
The National Women's Health Research Initiative (NWHRI) is a collaborative effort between the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Women and Gender Equality Canada. The initiative was created to close critical gaps in women’s health research, with a focus on high-priority and historically overlooked areas. Its goal is to ensure that all individuals, especially women, girls, and gender-diverse people, receive health care that is evidence-based, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and free from stigma.
Through this initiative, 24 research projects across Canada have been funded to drive meaningful change in how health care is delivered and experienced. Among those, the CAMH project is the only one to address mental health.
The project is rooted in meaningful partnerships with women who have lived experience of the justice system, mental health challenges, and/or substance use. Focus groups create space for open dialogue, trust-building, and mutual learning. A key feature of the project is its mentorship component, where women interested in research are supported to take on deeper roles—gaining skills, peer support, and opportunities to contribute to analysis, co-author publications, and shape the project's direction.
Community impact of prison mental health
“Prison health is public health,” says Dr. Penney. “With over 95 per cent of incarcerated individuals eventually returning to their communities, the wellbeing of people in custody—especially women—is a critical public health issue. The impacts of incarceration extend far beyond the individual, affecting children, families, and entire communities. Our hope is that this research helps shift public narratives and policy thinking, so justice-involved women receive the support they need both during incarceration and as they reintegrate into society.”
CAMH expertise in forensic mental health
CAMH holds a unique position in Canada’s mental health landscape—as both a hospital providing direct care and a hub for research. As Ontario’s largest provider of forensic mental health services, CAMH not only delivers inpatient care, but also plays a central role in community-based services. The Forensic Psychiatry Division is a specialized department dedicated to the assessment, treatment and management of individuals with serious mental illness or substance use disorders in the forensic mental health system or correctional settings. In addition, via the Forensic Early Intervention Service (FEIS), developed in partnership with the Ministry of the Solicitor General, CAMH provides mental health support to individuals in correctional facilities, including women at the Vanier Centre for Women.
Waverley House Secure Care & Recovery Building
CAMH’s commitment to forensic mental health was further underscored in October 2024 with the announcement of the Waverley House Secure Care & Recovery Building. Currently under construction at the Queen Street West site and set to open in 2029, Waverley House will transform CAMH’s forensic mental health care by replacing existing facilities with a modern, patient-centered environment designed to support healing and recovery. With 214 beds, specialized therapy areas, secure outdoor spaces, and clinics for community-based care, the new seven-story building emphasizes dignity, autonomy, and recovery for individuals with complex mental illness who have encountered the legal system.
