The challenge to survive in jail

Abstract

Prisoners are one of the groups at higher risk of suicide, with higher suicide rates than in the general population. Inmate suicide afflicts all the countries in the world, and this requires the development of effective suicide prevention programs. In fact, even if it isn’t possible to determine if and when the suicidal behavior will occur, it is possible to prevent it, addressing specific risk factors, such as psychiatric disorders and impulsive personality traits, as well as several other factors specifically associated to imprisonment and its consequences. Among the studies proposed and realized in this field, those which demonstrated the effectiveness of some suicidal prevention programs in prison are the comprehensive multifactored interventions, based on staff training and screening. Also the phases after release are at high risk of suicide. For this reason, it’s indispensable that the prevention programs are not limited to the period of detention, but extended even after the release of the inmates.