Penitentiary and Non-Penitentiary Factors of Suicidal Behaviour in Prison Settings
Katarzyna Lenart-Kłoś
John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin , Polandhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6429-6152
Abstract
Suicidal behaviour among prisoners is one of the most challenging issues facing the prison system, as isolation, violence, mental disorders and a lack of social support generate an environment conducive to the escalation of suicidal thoughts and attempts. In Poland, there is still a lack of comprehensive analyses combining the penitentiary and post-penitentiary perspectives on this phenomenon. The aim of this article is to identify risk factors for suicidal behaviour in prison isolation and after release from penitentiary units. The analysis is based on desk research, including statistical data, reports from penitentiary institutions, normative acts, and the results of domestic and foreign studies. Suicidal behaviour in prisons is multifactorial. Age, sex, mental disorders, traumatic experiences, stage of imprisonment, overcrowding, isolation, lack of contact with loved ones and such social crises as the COVID-19 pandemic are all relevant factors. The period immediately after release from prison is also associated with a high risk. Effective suicide prevention in penitentiary units requires regular risk monitoring, staff training, early identification of threats, and ensuring that psychological suport is continued after the sentence is served.
Keywords:
suicide behaviour, suicide, risk factors, suicide prevention, prisonReferences
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John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin
Dr, Katedra Katolickiej Nauki Społecznej i Socjologii Moralności, Instytut Nauk Socjologicznych, Wydział Nauk Społecznych i Technicznych
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