Mental health treatment experiences before, during, and afterincarceration: Perspectives of formerly incarcerated Black men.

= 26/29; 89.7%) reported receiving mental health treatment at some point in their lives. Three overarching themes emerged: (1) Treatment timing relative to incarceration: treatment before incarceration often misaligned with needs, treatment during incarceration offered access but was constrained by limited resources, and treatment after incarceration offered greater agency; (2) experiences across treatment modalities: perceptions of individual therapy, group therapy, and medications varied. Positive experiences are linked to supportive clinician or peer relationships and skill building. Negative experiences tied to retraumatization or reluctance toward medication; and (3) treatment shaped by institutional surveillance and punishment: mandated care undermined engagement unless autonomy was maintained, and participants expressed mixed views on how substance use disorder treatment related to their mental health needs. Findings highlight that while it is essential to address the mental health needs of FIBM, treatment varies greatly in quality and impact. Future research should examine treatment types, settings, and trajectories over the life course to inform equitable, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive care for FIBM. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).