Asking About Suicide Is Vital for Suicide Prevention at Correctional Facilities
Suicide risk identification is critical for saving the lives of both inmates and correctional officers (COs), who are at heightened risk for taking their own lives.
Suicide is the leading cause of death in county jails in the U.S., with a suicide rate three times higher than that of the general population. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death in state and federal prisons. In England and Wales, suicide attempts are six times more likely for sentenced prisoners and 7.5 times more likely for pretrial detainees.
Relying solely on observation is not sufficient for prevention: Many suicidal inmates have no psychiatric illness and present no warning signs.
Suicide among inmates is not just a moral issue but also a financial one. Many of these suicides result in litigation alleging negligence or deliberate indifference. With jury awards that have exceeded $1 million, the National Institute of Corrections has said the results of those lawsuits can be “financially devastating” to a correctional facility.
COs are at risk, too, with a suicide rate up to twice as high as that of the general population. The officers face stressors that are unique to their profession and “pose a serious threat to [their] mental and physical health,” according to a July 2013 Department of Justice (DOJ) report, “Correctional Officer Wellness and Safety Literature Review.” Yet these officers may be hesitant to seek help: “Like police officers, COs have subcultural taboos regarding the acknowledgement of a need for medical or psychological assistance, as such admissions are perceived as a sign of weakness.”
The Columbia Protocol Is Helping Correctional Facilities Save Lives and Target Resources
Suicide is preventable, and asking the right questions to identify who is at risk is a critical first step to ending it. DOJ and World Health Organization best practices include procedures to systematically screen inmates upon their arrival at the facility and periodically throughout their stay to identify those who may be at high risk. Whether used to prevent suicide among inmates or COs, the Columbia Protocol — also known as the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) — is the ideal risk detection tool because it’s:
