Suicide Rates in Nordic Prisons 2000-2016

Area of Science:

• Criminology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Suicide is a significant concern within correctional facilities worldwide.
• Understanding population-specific suicide risks is crucial for targeted prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare suicide rates among individuals in prison versus the general population in Nordic countries.
• To analyze trends in prison suicide rates over a 17-year period (2000-2016).

Main Methods:

• Utilized national data on suicide deaths and person-years for both incarcerated and general populations in Nordic countries (2000-2016).
• Calculated age-standardized rate ratios to compare suicide risks between the two groups.
• Assessed statistical significance of observed trends.

Main Results:

• The overall suicide rate for individuals in prison was 110.1 per 100,000 person-years.
• A statistically significant decline in prison suicide rates was observed between 2000 and 2016 (p < 0.0001).
• Age-standardized mortality ratios indicated substantially higher suicide risk for males (7.4) and females (17.8) in prison compared to the general population in Denmark, Iceland, and Norway.

Conclusions:

• Despite a decreasing trend, individuals in prison experience excess suicide mortality compared to the general population.
• The findings highlight the persistent vulnerability of the prison population to suicide.
• Further targeted interventions are warranted to address suicide prevention in correctional settings.