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Suicide in Scottish Prisons

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

S. A. Backett
S. A. Backett*
Affiliation:
MRC Unit for Epidemiological Studies in Psychiatry, University Department of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Park, Edinburgh EH 10 5HF
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Extract

A consecutive series of prison suicides in Scotland between 1970 and 1982 was examined. The initial phase of imprisonment was found to be the most vulnerable stage of confinement, with almost two-thirds of the deaths having taken place within the first month. A disproportionately high number were found to be on remand. A history of some form of psychiatric involvement was common, and a third of the group had received previous psychiatric inpatient treatment. In contrast to results from general population studies, there was little evidence to link suicide with a history of depressive illness. A record of problems with either alcohol or drug dependence was found in almost half the cases. The importance of general measures designed to reduce stress and promote coping mechanisms is emphasised.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 151 , Issue 2 , August 1987 , pp. 218 - 221
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1987 

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