NCJ Number
7661
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 36 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1972) Pages: 29-31
Date Published
1972
Length
3 pages
Annotation
DISCUSSION COVERS ORGANIC AND FUNCTIONAL CAUSES OF SUICIDE, SIGNS OF DEPRESSION, THE SUICIDAL MANIPULATOR, AND ACTIONS TO PREVENT SUICIDE.
Abstract
THREE FUNCTIONAL (PSYCHOLOGICAL) CAUSES OF SUICIDE IN PRISON ARE EXTREME FEAR, DEPRESSION, AND PSYCHOTIC HALLUCINATIONS. FEAR AND DEPRESSION STRONG ENOUGH TO PRECIPITATE A SUICIDE ATTEMPT MAY BE TRIGGERED BY THE FOLLOWING: BAD NEWS, SUCH AS SICKNESS OR DEATH AT HOME; HOMOSEXUAL RAPE; NO NEWS; SUDDEN CONFINEMENT (FIRST OFFENDER); UNEXPECTED SENTENCE OF UNUSUALLY LONG DURATION HANDED DOWN BY THE COURTS; GUILT ARISING FROM A CRIME COMMITTED BY THE INDIVIDUAL SUCH AS CHILD MOLESTING OR MURDER OF A RELATIVE OR CLOSE FRIEND; RECEIVING A BEATING FROM AN INMATE OR CORRECTIONS OFFICER; OR CONFINEMENT FOR A LONG PERIOD IN AN UNSENTENCED STATUS. PSYCHOTIC HALLUCINATIONS CAN BE EXPERIENCED BY A PERSON WHO HAS TEMPORARILY LOST TOUCH WITH REALITY, AND SUCH PERSONS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS POSSIBLY DANGEROUS. WHILE A PSYCHOTIC'S BIZARRE ACTIONS ARE EASY TO OBSERVE, SIGNS OF DEPRESSION ARE OFTEN QUITE SUBTLE UNLESS ONE IS PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE TO THEM. IF THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS ARE PRESENT IN A COMBINATION OR EXAGGERATED FORM THEY ARE INDICATIVE OF DEPRESSION SERIOUS ENOUGH TO LEAD TO A POSSIBLE SUICIDE: LOSS OF APPETITE; SLEEPING DIFFICULTIES; LETHARGY; EXTREME TENSION, RESTLESSNESS, AND AGITATION; PRONENESS TO EASY UPSETS; AND AVOIDANCE OF COMPANY OF OTHER INMATES AND NORMALLY POPULAR RECREATIONAL EVENTS. OFFICERS TRYING TO PREVENT SUICIDE ATTEMPTS SHOULD MOVE SLOWLY AND CALMLY TOWARD THE INMATE, SHOULD DO NOTHING THAT MAY SEEM THREATENING, AND SHOULD REFER THE INMATES FOR PSYCHIATRIC ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE ATTEMPT. REFERENCES ARE NOT INCLUDED.