[Suicide behind bars -- an international review]

Area of Science:

• Forensic Psychiatry
• Criminology
• Public Health

Background:

• Increasing prevalence of individuals with mental disorders in correctional institutions.
• Escalating rates of suicide and self-harm within jail and prison settings.
• Identified problem by mental health services and criminal justice authorities, yet lacking specific risk factor knowledge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and compare risk factors associated with inmate suicides.
• To review existing literature on suicide prevention in correctional facilities.
• To highlight future research directions for high-risk inmate populations.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a literature search using the MEDLINE database.
• Focused on studies addressing jail and/or prison suicide.
• Compared and tabulated results from relevant surveys.

Main Results:

• Correctional facility suicide rates significantly surpass those in the general male population.
• In-custody suicide rates have shown an upward trend over recent decades.
• Pre-trial prisoners exhibit the highest suicide risk within the incarcerated population.
• Identified risk factors include long-term sentences, single-cell confinement, pre-existing mental illness, substance abuse, and a history of suicidality.

Conclusions:

• Suicide prevention strategies within correctional facilities require focused attention.
• Further research is crucial to develop effective interventions in this high-risk environment.
• Understanding specific risk factors is key to mitigating inmate suicides.