Suicide in a Criminal Justice Context Flashcards
How many people die due to suicide every year?
> 700,000
How many prisoners complete suicide?
180 per 100,000
How more likely are prisoners to die by suicide than the general population?
5 - 9 times
What is the Integrated Motivational -Volitional Model of Suicidal Behaviour?
It is a bio-psycho approach that attempts to distinguish people with suicidal thoughts and suicidal behaviour.
How many phases does the Integrated Motivational-Volitional Model of Suicidal Behaviour have?
3 Phases: Pre-motivational Phase, Motivational Phase, Volitional Phase.
What happens in the Pre-motivational Phase?
- This consists of background factors & triggering events, such as the diathesis, environment and life events (biology & environmental factors).
- Many people have these factors but it doesn’t make them suicidal.
What happens in the Motivational Phase?
- This consists of Intention Formation. People may have feelings of defeat or humiliation and develop threats to self-moderators, which consist of coping, memory biases and problem-solving.
- People with good problem-solving will ignore it, but if people have bad problem-solving then it becomes fixated.
- This moves them to entrapment, where they cannot move out of the situation. People may feel a loss of sense of belongingness or no social support, which is crucial to aid people. people may interpret situations negatively or have volitional behaviour (negative thoughts about the future).
- This moves them to suicidal ideation.
What happens in the Volitional Phase?
- This phase moves from having suicidal thoughts to behaviour and ∴ determines if a person will have suicidal thoughts or behaviour.
- This consists of impulsivity and access to means and physical harm.
- But, self-harm ≠ suicidal behaviour. It is a motivational behaviour.
What are the gender risk factors?
Women make more attempts, but Men are more likely to use more serious/dangerous means
What are the risk factors in terms of criminological and offender characteristics?
- Men & those of White ethnic group
- Childhood maltreatment
- Remand status, serving a life sentence
- Convicted of a violent offence
- Violent offenders
- Sex offenders
- Probation/Low-risk offenders
What are the risk factors in terms of Mental health?
- Previous suicide attempt
- Prevalence of self-harm
- Current psychiatric diagnosis
- Mood, anxiety, psychotic, and substance use disorders with comorbidity risks
- Borderline personality disorder
- Maladaptive coping mechanisms and negative expressions
- Women: depression and PTSD
- Men: major depression, psychosis, anxiety disorder and drug misuse
What are the risk factors in terms of Prison environment?
- Bullying
- Isolation and Loneliness
- Low purposeful activity
- Fewer visitors
- Single-cell
- Solitary confinement
- Overcrowding
- Higher security prisons
Who is more likely to attempt suicide?
- Within 12 months of having any contact with the CJS
- Newley arrived prisoners (first 7 days)
- Being recalled to prison (probation)
- Receiving a warning letter (probation)
- First 28 days release
- Finishing probation
- Interfacility transfers, cell relocations, and changes in legal status
What has been done to prevent suicide?
- Environment - Safer cells
(e.g. bars on windows, but you can’t physically change the environment) - Think First programmes
(target impulsive behaviours) - Monitoring ACCT `Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork’.
(A case management system tailored to each individual for their needs to care and support) - Talking and listener schemes
(ran by Samaritans with trained prisoners) - Support at crucial risk stages
- Interventions/support aimed at risk factors
- Suicide prevention strategies
- Training for staff
