Suicide in New South Wales Prisons, 1995–2005: Towards a Better Understanding

Abstract

The rate of suicide in NSW prisons has been declining over the past 10 years, but remains approximately 10-fold that of the NSW community. Suicide was the leading cause of death among NSW inmates from 1995 to 2005. Suicide is a rare event, making its prediction a difficult task, with the prison environment a further compounding factor. This review highlights a number of factors, which appear to be common in many cases. Increased monitoring during the first week of incarceration may be an effective intervention. It is recommended that consideration be given to the length of time spent on remand and the value of custodial sentences of <or=6 months.

Two Cases of Acute Propane/Butane Poisoning in Prison

“…An analysis of data regarding suicides in a prison environment (15,18–22) indicates that the method of choice is hanging, while the inhalation of volatile gases is extremely rare, consistent with our findings.…”

A cross-sectional survey of prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among prisoners in New South Wales, Australia

“…Prison suicides are associated with many of the same risk factors as seen in suicides more generally, such as prior suicidal ideation and suicide attempts; mental illness; substance use disorders; and self-harming behaviours [3,7-12]. Suicide risk factors specific to correctional settings have also been identified, such as unsentenced status (i.e.…”

“…on remand) [3,13]; housing in single-occupancy cells [3]; and conviction for a violent offence [14]. The initial stages of incarceration are a period of particularly high suicide risk; in the United Kingdom and Australia, one in ten completed suicides in prison occur within the first twenty-four hours of imprisonment, and one-third within the first week [7,12]. The acute intoxication effects of alcohol and other drugs, such as reduced inhibitions and increased impulsivity, may contribute to suicide risk during this time [7,15].…”

Cezaevinde Mahkum Ölümleri Eskişehir Deneyimi

“…Cezaevinin ruh sağlığı üzerindeki etkisi nedeniyle özellikle ilk günlerde daha şiddetli olmak üzere öncesinde psikiyatrik bozukluğu, alkol ve madde bağımlılığı olanların intihar etme riskinin daha fazla olduğu belirtilmiştir (22,23). Yapılan çalışmalarda cezaevlerinde bulunan kişilerin ruhsal açıdan uzman personel tarafından gözlenmesi ve gerekli önlemlerin alınması ile intihar oranının düşebileceği vurgulanmıştır (22)(23)(24)(25)(26). Çalışmamızda zorlamalı ölümlerde orjini intihar olan olguların tümünün ası yönteminin kullanıldığı belirlenmiştir.…”