2025-09-04
Tuğba Görgülü
Let’s Break the Silence: Suicide in Prisons- Risk Factors, Epidemiology and Prevention
Suicide in prisons is a major public health and institutional concern. Incarcerated individuals face a much higher risk of suicide than the general population. This review synthesizes current literature on the epidemiology, psychosocial risk factors, and prevention of suicidal behavior among prisoners. It highlights the interplay between individual vulnerabilities (importation model) such as psychiatric disorders, past trauma, substance use, and social disadvantage and prison-specific stressors (deprivation model), including overcrowding, isolation, limited social contact, and strict disciplinary measures. Studies show that the early period of incarceration, especially the first days and weeks, is a critical window of heightened suicide risk due to adjustment difficulties, acute stress, and loss of social support. Effective prevention requires an integrated approach combining interventions for high-risk individuals, such as mental health screening, psychosocial support, trauma-informed therapy, and anger management, with broader strategies to improve prison conditions, enhance social connections, and foster a supportive environment. Strengthening family ties, promoting positive staff-inmate relationships, and providing educational, vocational, and recreational programs can further enhance resilience and reduce self-harm risk. Comprehensive strategies addressing both individual and environmental factors are essential to mitigate suicide risk. This review emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary, multi-level interventions for sustainable suicide prevention in correctional settings.