Responding to the Suicidal Prisoner

Note: While this was written with jail ministry in mind, the principles will apply in most situations.

Suicide is among the major causes of death in jails and detention centers. It has been estimated that the suicide rate in detention and holding cells is nine times greater than in the general population.

If you spend much time at all ministering in an institutional setting, sooner or later you will be faced with someone who is suicidal. It is important to be prepared ahead of time to know how to respond.

Most suicidal people do not really want to die. They have mixed feelings about it. They are in pain, physical or emotional, and are unable to see any alternative to relieve that pain. They do not so much want to die as to stop the pain.

Most suicidal people want to be rescued.

Your job is to simply help initiate that rescue.

The most important thing you can do is just listen. Very often, the person does not want advice, and certainly not criticism, but simply to be heard and to matter.

Don't be afraid to bring up the question of suicide. Don't be afraid of planting the idea of suicide in their heads. It's already there. If you believe someone may be suicidal, ask him. He may be afraid to bring it up himself and may feel relieved that you brought it for him, especially if you did it in a gentle nonjudgmental manner.

Find out if the person has ever attempted suicide in the past. The single most reliable predictor of a suicide attempt in the future is a suicide attempt in the past. Ask the person if they have a plan or how they would go about killing themselves. The more details they have planned out, the higher the risk.

Then tell somebody. Tell the watch commander or whoever is in charge. Tell a supervisor, not just one of the officers. Don't be afraid you might be breaking a confidence, you're saving a life.

Possible Warning Signs of Suicide

• Verbal signs   "It doesn't matter any more." "I wish I were dead."
• Behavior Change   Such as a previously outgoing person becoming withdrawn and moody, or a cautious person taking unusual risks.
• Signs of Depression   Anxiety, fatigue, hopelessness, helplessness, changes in eating or sleeping habits.
• Preoccupation with Death   Themes of death in essays, poems, or artwork.
• Previous Suicide Attempts   The single most reliable predictor of a suicide attempt in the future is a suicide attempt in the past.
• Inability to Tolerate Praise   Or encouragement or rewards.
• Neglect of Personal Hygiene  
• Eating Disorders   Lack of appetite, overeating, or binging and purging.
• Drug or Alcohol Abuse  
• Psychosomatic Illnesses  
• Disinterest in Previously Enjoyable Activities or Hobbies
• Getting One's Affairs in Order   Making final arrangements or giving away prized possessions.
• Hurting, Cutting, or Burning Oneself