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
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Attempted Suicide
Methods and Opportunities
Prevention Strategies
References
Topics:

Content: The suicide rate in prisons and jails in the United States went down during the previous 20 years, largely because of suicide prevention efforts. By far, the most suicides among inmates occur soon after incarceration. 1-4 A Hayes study from 2012 found that nearly one-quarter of newly arrested prisoners died within the first 24 hours, and more than half died between 2 days and 4 months of confinement. 2
Attempted Suicide
Rates of attempted suicide are also high among prisoners. An epidemiologic study from England and Wales by Hawton and colleagues 3 reported that during the years from 2004 to 2009, the incidence of self-harm among male prisoners was 5% to 6%, and 20% to 24% among female prisoners. A history of 5 or more attempts was highly associated with risk for subsequent suicide. 3
These attempts were carried out with high suicidal intent, and were often repeated. A 2016 review of the literature by Marzano et al 5 showed that on average, female inmates were likely to commit self-harm 8 times per year, and most near-lethal attempts occurred soon after incarceration. These risks were all significantly reduced when suicide risk management procedures were being followed. 5
Methods and Opportunities
Most suicides in prison occur by hanging, when inmates are held in isolation or segregation cells, and at times when observation is light.