Mental Health & the Criminal Justice System

At 3 Generations we have been documenting stories about the inequalities of the criminal justice system for a number of years. In recent years our focus has been on the relationship of mental illness to incarceration, shown in our feature documentary Any Given Day. Produced in association with Beti Films and directed by Margaret Byrne, this documentary is now available to rent and purchase on AppleTV & iTunes. 

As we celebrate our 15th Anniversary this year, we will deepen our focus on Intergenerational Activism. One way we are amplifying voices across generations is by bringing to light the growing number of young people burdened by mental illnesses. In particular, LGBT youth are particularly at risk of suicide ideation and attempts. 

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 10 to 24— and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth are at significantly increased risk. LGBTQ youth are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers. The Trevor Project estimates that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ youth (13-24) seriously consider suicide each year in the U.S. — and at least one attempts suicide every 45 seconds. 

Additionally, the burdens of incarceration and an unjust criminal justice system take a toll on youth, especially those with preexisting mental health issues. 

If you or someone you know is feeling hopeless or suicidal, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling or messaging 988. You can stay up to date on how 3G amplifies the voices of those struggling with their mental health and incarceration on our website or by connecting with us on social media.