Stoicism helps people by providing a framework for training in emotional resilience consistent with and complementary to evidence-based psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). That's important because it may help prevent mental health problems before therapy is required - prevention is better than cure. Stoicism has always appealed to people who are living or working in challenging environments. Whereas CBT offers goal-focused and time-limited strategies and techniques, Stoicism offers a whole philosophy of life, which individuals tend to follow long-term or even permanently. Stoic philosophy has been taught at HM Prison Huntercombe since 2016. All prisoners complete 16, 1-hour sessions of learning supported by a 200-page manual and videos. The programme is led by Physical Education Officers (PEO). The course is very easy to teach, the only cost is reproduction of the manuals. The Stoicism course is now operating in 8 prisons. PEO’s have a unique and privileged position; they teach prisoners how to become Personal Trainers, Spinning Instructors and how to obtain the physique they desire. PEO’s also coach many sports, the relationships between PEO and prisoners are ideally placed to teach Stoic Philosophy. Two formal Psychology evaluations have been carried out by HM Prison Service. Reduced self-harm, decreased levels of aggression/violence and increases in feelings of well-being have been the outcomes of the intervention for the Stoic course graduates. These are precisely the results one would hope for from Stoic Philosophy. Considering many prisoners have fallen into the criminal justice system because of poor emotional control, a life of Self Mastery offered by easily learnt Stoic practises could provide the answer to the revolving door of offending and incarceration.
