Crushing of Hope? Youth Death in Detention Centers and Adult Custody (From Preventing Youth Suicide, P 213-232, 1992, Sandra McKillop, ed. - See NCJ-139013)

• NCJ Number: 139026
• Author(s): J Howard
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 20 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

As the rate of juvenile suicide in Australia continues to increase, more attention must be paid to the relationships between depression, juvenile delinquency, and suicide.

Abstract

Two concepts -- masked depression and depressive equivalent behavior -- are applied to depression in children and adolescents, although their symptoms may differ from those of adults. Some researchers have linked depression and persistent criminality and, in children, delinquent behavior. Depressed adolescents are more prone to abuse alcohol and drugs and to participate in other risk-taking behaviors. Numerous studies have shown correlations between suicide and associated psychiatric disorders, usually depression, and between suicide and conduct disorders, including delinquency. Another study, which focused on suicide rates of adults in custody, found that inmates most likely to commit suicide had histories of self-inflicted injuries, had been charged with violent crimes, were recidivists or parole violators, and were young offenders convicted of property offenses. Young offenders housed in youth centers were less likely to commit suicide than those in adult custody. Some recommendations for preventing suicide among adolescents in custody: maintain them in youth custody, provide crisis intervention services, train staff to recognize potential suicides, and monitor prison medical services. 9 tables and 60 references