Prisoners on prisons: Experiences of peer-delivered suicide prevention work

Abstract

Prison suicide is a global concern, with rates consistently exceeding those in non-incarcerated populations. Prisoners deliver (suicide prevention) initiatives in jurisdictions around the world. As part of a research project seeking to foreground prisoner voices in criminological knowledge, former prisoners and academics coproduced an innovative, retrospective examination of peer-delivered prison suicide prevention in England. Our collaborative, autoethnographic research design involved focus group discussions and co-authored outputs. We offer fresh perspectives on peer-delivered suicide prevention, revealing overlooked limitations including traumatisation through ‘volunteering’. Findings include: the riskiness of prison peer support; inconsistencies in training and conditions; the importance of (supported) peer provision; and proposals for safer service development.