Forensic mental health is one of the most misunderstood parts of the mental health system. It sits at the intersection of mental health care and the criminal justice system. It supports people who have experienced serious mental health challenges and have also come into contact with the law. This can include those who have committed offences while unwell or those who are considered at risk of doing so.
This is a specialist area of care. It plays a vital role in public safety, individual recovery, and rehabilitation. But too often, forensic services are seen as only about control, risk, or punishment. At Bridge Support, we know they can be something else entirely: the beginning of a better life.
Who are forensic mental health services for?
Forensic mental health services support people who have complex needs. Many clients have been sectioned under the Mental Health Act and detained in secure hospitals. Others may have served time in prison. Some have lived through years of instability or trauma. Many have been failed by multiple systems.
What they have in common is that they need structured, compassionate support. This support must not only focus on managing risk but also on building a future. That’s where specialist forensic mental health support comes in.
What does forensic support involve?
At its best, forensic support is highly person-centred. It meets people where they are, not where we expect them to be. It may involve:
- Support to live safely in the community.
- Help with housing, benefits, and healthcare.
- A focus on rehabilitation, not just risk reduction.
- Close work with multi-agency teams, including probation and clinical services.
- A commitment to trauma-informed care and positive relationships.
The goal is long-term recovery and reintegration, not simply supervision.
Why is this work so important?
People in forensic services are often portrayed as dangerous or beyond help. In reality, many are living with untreated or poorly managed mental illness. They need time, space, and the right kind of support to stabilise, recover, and rebuild. That is a journey. It requires consistency, trust, and skilled care.
Without appropriate support, the cycle of hospital admissions, reoffending, or relapse can continue. But when done well, forensic mental health support can break that cycle. It can give people the tools and confidence to live safely and well. It benefits not only the individual but also their families, communities, and the wider system.
Our approach
Bridge Support offers forensic mental health support as part of our wider supported housing and recovery services. We work closely with clients, clinicians, probation services, and commissioners to create recovery-focused, high-quality support plans. Each person is seen as an individual with strengths, not just a set of risks.
We believe in second chances. We believe in housing as a foundation for recovery. And we believe that no one is defined by their past.
Looking forward
As conversations around mental health grow, forensic mental health must not be left behind. These are some of the most vulnerable individuals in the system. They need thoughtful, skilled, and sustained support.
At Bridge Support, we remain committed to walking alongside them. We help build lives that are not only safe but also meaningful.
Further Reading
Why Mental Health Services Fail Prisoners After Release
Breaking the Cycle: Mental Health Support for Prison Leavers
The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Women in the Criminal Justice System
