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Introduction
Suicide prevention is an important topic for discussion. It is generally known that most suicide attempts happen in a prison environment, so this issue cannot be ignored, and collective efforts should be used to solve this problem. It cannot be overlooked that some offenders have a much higher suicide risk than others. It is dependent on many different factors, including mental state, age, ethnicity, social status of a prisoner.
Main body
Offenders with chronic depression are much more susceptible to suicidal tendencies. When introduced to a new environment, they may just be overwhelmed and start acting irrationally. Mentally ill offenders should be appropriately treated. They require special attention from specialists and cannot be treated the same way as the other prisoners. Awofeso (2010) states that “the psychological impact of arrest and incarceration or the stress associated with imprisonment may exceed the coping capabilities of vulnerable inmates” (p. 259). This means that some groups of prisoners, such as sex offenders and those formerly associated with police can be called vulnerable since they are generally disrespected by other inmates, which may lead to desperation. That is why there should be special sections in prisons for such types of offenders.
An important component of suicide prevention is a prior investigation of suicidal tendencies of prisoners. Every single convict should be interviewed to determine their suicide risk (“New Hampshire reviews prevention of suicide,” 2001). Results of those interviews must be analyzed and treatment options should be chosen for each prisoner. Depending on results different levels of supervision should be applied. Offenders who are susceptible to suicide should be provided with counseling. It can be personal or group meetings. The goal of a counseling specialist is to find the core of the problem and to prevent suicidal thoughts and behavior. Clayton (2008) notes that “most suicide prevention policies rely heavily on intake screening but are light on other critical areas of identification such as recognizing that a suicide is likely to occur shortly after an inmate’s court hearing” (p. 84). It means that careful monitoring on every stage of imprisonment cannot be disregarded. Suicide-prone offenders must be put in jail cells with other prisoners, so they are observed most of the time, and even then they should be carefully monitored by trained specialists. Intervention is one of the keys to suicide prevention (Clayton, 2008). First aid specialists should always be available in case of emergency. There is also a number of different instruments to help with suicide prevention, such as gas tanks and taser guns. Disciplined offenders can also be used to help with an intervention. They are specially trained to talk with suicidal prisoners to prevent possible tragic outcomes. This method has proven to be very effective since some prefer to listen to other prisoners rather than correctional officers. It is important not to forget about recidivism. Those offenders who have already attempted suicide should be attentively observed.
Conclusion
In conclusion, current suicide prevention programs are not perfect and could use some improvement, but some components and approaches are worth mentioning. A prior investigation of suicidal tendencies, counseling, and intake screening is essential in forensic treatment settings because it allows prisons to manage their resources. The use of instruments and equipment, specially designed for suicide prevention is an important intervention approach. Specially trained prisoners should be used for intervention programs.
References
Awofeso, N. (2010). Preventing suicides in prison settings – the role of mental health promotion policies and programs. Advances in Mental Health, 9(3), 255-262.
Clayton, S. L. (2008). H-PIS luncheon addresses suicide prevention. Corrections Today, 70(5), 84-85.
New Hampshire reviews prevention of suicide. (2006). Corrections Digest, 37(12), 2-3.
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