Suicide Prevention

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...