How to Protect Your Mental Health While Facing Criminal Charges

Getting arrested is terrifying and can cause a silent mental breakdown. If you are facing criminal charges in Pennsylvania, you know that the time between your arrest and your final court date is a highly stressful “waiting game”.

The Heavy Toll of the Waiting Game

Going to court multiple times makes people feel very anxious, stressed out, and uneasy. Many people are terrified of being placed in pretrial detention, which means going to jail before a trial even begins. This fear is valid, as the uncertainty of pretrial detention takes a massive toll on mental health. In fact, suicide rates for people in pretrial detention are three times higher than for convicted prisoners.

3 Ways to Keep Your Brain Busy

Michael Kotik, a criminal defense attorney at SKA Law Group, advises clients that the best way to survive this waiting period is to stay busy. Here are three rules to follow:

Go to work or school

Do not sit at home sleeping or feeling sorry for yourself. Make your days go faster by getting a job, going to school, or going to the gym. Use this time to take a step back so you can leap forward.

Stop Googling your case

Do not use Google or AI to research your criminal charges, as this will only make you panic and lose your mind over the case.

Let your lawyer worry

You hired an attorney and gave them money to fight for you, so let them handle the legal stress.

Healing and Coming Home

The criminal justice system can cause deep emotional trauma, but there are alternative ways to heal. Some cases use “restorative justice,” where the offender and victim safely communicate to repair the harm caused. This helps offenders take responsibility and gives victims a voice.

If you do serve time, coming home to your community in Pennsylvania is another major hurdle. Returning citizens face huge struggles with housing and employment, making their suicide risk 62% higher than the general public. Building strong support systems and finding stable housing are the keys to survival. If you need a strong legal team, contact SKA Law Group fight for your freedom.

FAQs: How to Protect Your Mental Health While Facing Criminal Charges

Why is waiting for a criminal trial so stressful?

The time between an arrest and a trial is a “waiting game” that causes extreme anxiety because of the fear of pretrial detention, going to multiple court dates, and the uncertainty of the future.

What should I do while waiting for my court date?

Keep your brain busy by going to work, attending school, or working out at the gym. Do not research your charges online with Google or AI, as it will only increase your stress.

How do returning citizens protect their mental health after jail?

Returning citizens face a very high risk of depression and suicide. Finding stable housing, securing a job, and building positive relationships with family and friends are the best ways to protect mental health after release.