Submitted by: Submitted by mesnweagan
Views: 405
Words: 635
Pages: 3
Category: Societal Issues
Date Submitted: 11/04/2012 04:28 PM
Suicide Prevention
Predisposing factors for suicide:
Recent Alcohol or drug use
Loss of support
Guilt or shame
Current mental illness
Serious physical illness
Reaching “the end of their rope”
Periods of high suicide risk:
Enter prison intoxicated or having recent excessive drug use
First three months (90 days) of incarceration
First anniversary of incarceration
10 year anniversary mark for long sentences
Just before release
Suicide in males vs. females:
Nearly four times as many suicides are completed by men then by women
Seventy-three percent (73%) of all suicides in the united states are committed by white males. Although the males vs. female ratio for completed suicide is 4.5:1, women have more unsuccessful suicide attempts.
Characteristics of inmates completing suicide:
White males
Between ages 15 and 24
White males over 65 years old
History of suicide (self or family)
Mental illness
History of alcoholism
History of excessive drug use
Diagnosis: depression or schizophrenia
Lack of social support
Single
Suicidal method = hanging
Often in isolation cells
Periods of high suicide risk:
Prior to/after court hearings
Prior to/after sentencing
Prior to/after board of pardons hearings
Prior to/after a move from jail to prison or move to more restrictive housing
During the graveyard shift (2400 to 0800 hours) or periods of decreased staff.
Possible Motivations:
Join a deceased loved one
Fain attention
Manipulate others
Avoid punishment
Self-punishment
Control when death will occur
Become a martyr
Punish survivors
End incarceration your way
Take revenge
Satanic or occult involvement
Same, guilt, loss
Risk factors in identifying suicidal inmates:
Having suicidal thoughts
Verbalizing suicidal wishes
Hallucinations (auditory or visual)
Loss of a loved one (divorce, death)
Withdrawing from substances
Hopelessness and/or helplessness
Mental illness
Behavioral or verbal cues indication suicide...