Title: Preventing Suicide in Prison Inmates - Psychiatry Advisor
Headings: Preventing Suicide in Prison Inmates
Preventing Suicide in Prison Inmates
Linda Peckel
Patterns of Suicide in Prison
Today’s Top Picks for You on Psychiatry Advisor
Attempted Suicide
Methods and Opportunities
Prevention Strategies
References
Topics:

Content: Preventing Suicide in Prison Inmates - Psychiatry Advisor
Publish Date
December 19, 2017
Preventing Suicide in Prison Inmates
Linda Peckel
Suicide in prisons can be due to health issues, lack of purposeful activity, and the stress of adjusting to incarceration. Suicide is a common cause of death in prisons, with rates substantially higher than in the general population. It is a worldwide problem, and one that appears to be recently on the rise. Studies from England and Wales in 2016 reported its highest incidence of suicide since 1999, with the rate among male prisoners 5 to 6 times higher than the general population, and among female prisoners as much as 20 times higher. 1
Suicide in prisons is multifactorial, with contributing factors that include medical and mental health issues as well as those involving family, lack of purposeful activity, and conditions of the specific prison environment, as well as the stress of adjusting to incarceration. Patterns of Suicide in Prison
Today’s Top Picks for You on Psychiatry Advisor
Impact of Psychological Interventions on Wellbeing Across
Mary Stroka May 21, 2021
Psychological Well-Being Worse for Children During COVID-19
Haymarket Media May 7, 2021
Family History of Psychiatric Conditions Raises Risk for Childhood Psychopathy
Kwamesha Joseph May 17, 2021
Continue Reading
A 2013 report by Lindsay M. Hayes, MA, who served as a suicide prevention consultant to the US Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and conducted the only 5 national studies of jail, prison, and juvenile suicide, pointed to a number of suicide trends in prisons, including 2: The rate of suicides among inmates remained consistent during the first few days to first few months of confinement. The majority occurred during waking hours. Most suicides did not occur while inmates were under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The occurrence of suicide was significantly related to a pending court date.