NCJ Number
173889
Journal
Omega Volume: 33 Issue: 3 Dated: 1996 Pages: 207-213
Date Published
1996
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The prison service of England and Wales has been developing a new strategy to reduce the level of inmate suicide and self-harm in custody, because the number of completed suicides in the prison population has increased sharply in recent years.
Abstract
Forty-eight suicides occurred among the inmate population of about 44,000 in 1989, more than double the number in 1986. Fifty inmates committed suicide in 1990; this was the highest number ever recorded. The prison service was already demoralized by severe overcrowding, poor conditions, poor labor relations, and prison disturbances. The Samaritan organization had become increasingly concerned in recent years about the suicidal and despairing and had established an outreach program to support persons at risk of suicide. The prison service is developing this strategy with the support of the Samaritans. The strategy focuses on replacing the medical model with a community care model that involves prison staff, inmates, medical staff, and Samaritan volunteers as helpers in the difficult area of supporting persons at risk of suicide while in prison. The strategy emphasizes better quality of care through supportive relationships at all levels; the care of inmates is shared by everyone in contact with them. Swansea Prison in Wales provides an early good example of this multidisciplinary approach in practice. As of September 1992 the prison had experienced no suicides, and self-harm had been reduced by 50 percent in the previous 12 months. Current efforts focus on spreading good practice, developing revised operating procedures, improving personnel training, and increasing the involvement of volunteers. 12 references (Author abstract modified)