Suicide Behind Bars: Trends, Inconsistencies, and Practical Implications

Abstract

The results of two comprehensive approaches are compared: the nationwide surveys of suicides in U.S. jails by Hayes and the international meta-analyses of suicides in jails and prisons by Fazel et al. Factors are classified as demographic, situational, clinical, and methodical. More than 50% of U.S. jail suicide victims were men, white, unmarried, under 28 years of age, charged with minor or drug-related offenses, and intoxicated with drugs or alcohol. Suicides significantly occurred in isolation. Suicide victims in the international study were significantly (p < 0.001) men, white, married, pretrial, and charged with or convicted of violent offenses. Psychiatric diagnosis, alcohol abuse, taking psychotropic medication, and suicidal ideation were also positively correlated in the international study, but suicide victims were distributed more evenly over age-groups. Results of other studies illustrate the near universality of some findings. Three theories of suicide are briefly discussed.

Ideação suicida, resolução de problemas, expressão de raiva e impulsividade em dependentes de substâncias psicoativas

“…Lesões nesta área resultam em desinibição do impulso e do comportamento agressivo (Mann, 1998), portanto, é possível que sujeitos com uma redução serotoninérgica nesta região cerebral possam ter uma maior predisposição a comportamentos impulsivos e de auto-agressão, quando expostos a situações estressantes, tais como: quadros psiquiátricos e, em algumas instâncias, isto poderia resultar na manifestação de comportamento suicida (Turecki, 1999). Estudo realizado nos Estados Unidos com prisioneiros verificou que indivíduos que tentaram o suicídio apresentaram acusações de crimes violentos e relação com drogas e intoxicação de álcool (Felthous, 2011).…”

Information pathways into prison mental health care

“…This presents an important information gap for prison mental health staff, especially as the earliest stages of imprisonment are known to be the highest point of systemic risk, particularly for suicide (Felthous, 2011).…”

Prison psychiatry

“…Felthous [23] points out that, from published data, factors can be identified which are connected with a higher risk for suicides in prison. Felthous [23] points out that, from published data, factors can be identified which are connected with a higher risk for suicides in prison.…”

“…a tri-level theoretical model, including the psychology of intention, relevant interpersonal dynamics and psychological stress factors, is most useful to understand the dynamics of inmates' suicides [23]. a tri-level theoretical model, including the psychology of intention, relevant interpersonal dynamics and psychological stress factors, is most useful to understand the dynamics of inmates' suicides [23].…”