Prison as a "total institution" tends to produce dependent inmates ill-equipped to adjust normatively in society upon release. Prison also carries the pains of powerlessness, fear, isolation, and emotional deprivation. Inmates often cope with the strains of the prison environment in mentally unhealthful ways. Mitigating the stress of the prison environment means having an inmate-centered view in which whatever happens to an inmate is assessed in terms of the degree of stress it produces, the relationship of each experience to the inmate's purposes and assumptions, the adjustments the inmate must make to cope with his experience, and the support the inmate needs to benefit from his treatment. This involves classifying inmates sensitively, placing them in matched climates and settings, and preparing prison staff to provide services to inmates that will promote mental health. 35 references.