2007/08/02 by Jane Senior, Adrian Hayes, Daniel Pratt +10 · 1 citation
Psychology · Social Sciences · Medicine · #Suicide and Self-Harm Studies #Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending #Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis #Psychology #Identification (biology) #Psychiatry #Suicide Risk #Prison #Criminology #Risk management #Suicide prevention #Poison control #Medical emergency #Medicine #Management
paper · doi:10.1080/14789940701470218
openalex publication_date 2007/08/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
This study aimed to examine rates of mental illness and suicidal ideation in a random sample of prisoners in four UK prisons, and to examine the characteristics and quality of care received by prisoners identified as at current risk of suicide/self harm. Methods used were: cross-sectional study of mental illness and suicidal ideation in a random sample of prisoners, and in all prisoners specifically managed as a suicide risk; examination of suicide risk care plans; and comparative study of information sharing across suicide risk and healthcare documentation. Results showed that prisoners identified as at risk of suicide/self harm had significantly higher rates of clinically significant symptoms of mental illness, as measured by a standardized instrument, than the general prison population. There was a high level of suicide risk that had not been identified. Problems with the delivery of planned care interventions were revealed and little congruence was found between systems of documentation. The suicide care planning system was correctly targeting a proportion of those at risk but high levels of unmet need remained. The care planning and information sharing processes within prisons and between prisons and other agencies should be improved.