Objective:To study the effects of group training on psychological health and self-esteem of new prisoners. Methods:An experimental study was conducted among new prisoners. The experimental group consisting of 10 new prisoners accepted psychological intervention by group training,while the control group of 10 new prisoners was not exposed to any intervention. Effects were assessed by comparing the scores of Symptom Checklist 90(SCL-90)and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale(RSES) before and after the experiment. Results:There was no significant difference in the scores of SCL-90 and RSES between experimental group and control group(P > 0.05). After group training,the scores showed great improvement in Somatization,Obsessive-Compulsive,Interpersonal sensitivity,Depression,Anxiety,Photic anxiety,Paranoid ideation,Psychoticism and Self-esteem in experimental group(P < 0.05 or < 0.01). Compared with the control group,the scores in Somatization,Interpersonal sensitivity,Depression and Anxiety were significantly decreased while the score of Self-esteem significantly increased(P < 0.01). Conclusion:Group training is an effective method of improving psychological health and self-esteem of new prisoners.