There are 167,000 children in the U.S. whose mothers are incarcerated. When they are trying to determine whether their children are being cared for with the restrictions of prison, or just from being cut off from others, they can be very depressed. This often goes undetected and untreated in prison settings. Others become depressed or anxious. Kurshman explained that the separation from their children is one of the greatest punishments of incarceration for women in prison.
Depression is the most common, then anxiety disorders and small proportion bipolar disorder.
In general, both in and outside of prison, women are more often diagnosed as depressed. Women come to prison with more mental health problems, and these are intensified in the prison setting. There is a correlation between age and education of women in prison. Other stereotypical problems associated with imprisonment are rape, harassment and homosexuality. Swenson hasn't had a problem with harassment.