Studying survivors of near-lethal suicide attempts as a proxy for completed suicide in prisons

Journal article

Suicides in prisons are common. There is a pressing need to understand more about the causes and prevention of prisoner suicides. A particularly informative approach is through studying survivors of near-lethal suicide attempts. However, the extent to which this approach is a good proxy for completed suicide requires verification. In this article we aimed to assess (1) the extent to which male and female prisoners who made near-lethal suicide attempts in prison are similar to prisoners who die by suicide; (2) the suicidal intent of those making near-lethal suicide attempts; and (3) the applicability of the Suicide Intent Scale in prisons. Survivors of near-lethal suicide attempts and prisoners who died by suicide were compared on sociodemographic and criminological characteristics. The suicidal intent of prisoners engaging in near-lethal self-harm was assessed using Beck's Suicide Intent Scale. There were no significant differences when the sociodemographic and criminological profiles of prisoners who made near-lethal suicide attempts and those who died by suicide were compared, except that male prisoners who made near-lethal suicide attempts were somewhat younger. Most prisoners carrying out near-lethal acts had high suicidal intent. However, some questions in the Suicide Intent Scale were inappropriate for assessing intent in prisoners. Prisoners who survive near-lethal self-harm would appear to be a valid proxy for those who die by suicide in prison. The Suicide Intent Scale requires some modifications for use in prisons. © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Authors: Rivlin, A; Fazel, S; Marzano, L; Hawton, K

• Journal: Forensic Science International
• Volume: 220
• Issue: 1-3
• Pages: 19-26
• Publication date: 2012-07-10
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2012.01.022
• EISSN: 1872-6283
• ISSN: 0379-0738
• Language: English
• Keywords: Near-lethal suicide attempts; Suicide; Prison; Suicidal intent