Inmates and staff at Edmonton women's prison prepare for the difficulties of the holiday season

The holiday season can be a difficult time for inmates at the Edmonton Institution for Women, and prison stafftry to help them cope withloneliness and depression.

In the hallwayof the prison sits a Christmas tree, and decorations line the walls. It's almost enough to distract from the fact that it's a penitentiary.

Inside one of therooms, there's pictures ofJesus, Santa Claus and festive holiday symbols. Melinda sits on the bed of her cell reading a book. She's more focused on the religious meaning of Christmas.

It's her ninth Christmas behind bars. She was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life with parole eligibility after 10 years.

She was intoxicated at the time of the murder in Calgary, and addicted to alcohol and drugs for years.Life in prison keeps her sober, she said.

A month ago she was approved toleave the prison for 72 hours, once a month.

"My experience in here during the holidays has been positive because when I was out I didn't even go home for Christmas anyway," Melinda said.

'A challenging time'

That feeling of positivity is rare among inmates at theprison. Not only are the inmates locked up while the city around them celebrates, but visits by family members and friends slow down, said the prison's acting warden.

"We provide additional support;we have a robust psychology and mental health department that provides support," said Brad Sass, acting warden at theEdmonton Institution for Women.

"We have behavioural counsellors, our parole officers, our program officers, as well as our elders and Indigenous staff who are very cognizant that this is a challenging time and they will reach out where needed."

I prefer not to have visits because I don't want to take my family away from my other family.- Melinda

Events are held at the prison to help the inmates celebrate and play games to keep their spirits upand confrontations down.

"When I talk to the women and the staff at the site, we talk about this being an extension of their family, but it can't replace their family," Sass said.

But Melinda, a mother of three, said she's learned to accept that visits are scarce during the holidays.

"I prefer not to have visits because I don't want to take my family away from my other family," she said.

As other inmates struggle to cope with the holidays, Melinda said she plans to offer peer support.

@Travismcewancbc

Travis.mcewan@cbc.ca