Warning Signs of Suicidal Behavior
Provided by the National American Association of Wardens and Superintendents.
Depression remains the single best indicator of potential suicide. Signs include:
- Inability to go on
- Extreme sadness and crying
- Withdrawal or silence
- Loss or increase of appetite and/or weight
- Pessimistic attitudes about future
- Insomnia or awakening early; excessive sleeping
- Sudden shift in mood that is not easily explained. For example, being calm and at peace then shifting to a period of depression / crying
- Mood and/or behavior variations
- Tenseness
- Lethargy - slowing of movements or non-reactive
- Loss of self-esteem
- Loss of interest in people, appearance or activities
- Excessive self-blaming
- Strong guilt feelings
- Difficulty concentrating or thinking
Other indicators to watch out for include:
- Verbal threat of suicide (with or without a specific plan).
- History of suicidal attempts an/or gestures, and/or self-mutilation.
- History of suicide within the family.
- Recently suffered a loss (i.e. death, relationship, etc.)
- Recent sexual assault or threat of such in future; other inmate conflicts, victimization.
- Poor health or terminal illness.
- Further legal problems (e.g., indictment, conviction, parole set-off, etc.)
- Institutional problems (e.g., classification, disciplinary, unwanted transfer, etc.)
- Increased hours of isolation (e.g., segregation, protective custody, etc.)
- Stopped attending groups, work assignments, mental health sessions, medical appointments, refusing visitors.
- Experienced an anniversary of a sad event.
- Giving away possessions, packing belongings, cleansing cell, writing farewell letters.
It is not uncommon for acts of self-injurious behaviors to be perceived by staff as manipulative behavior. However, it would be dangerous to ignore or punish this behavior. Although a majority of inmates that engage in self-destructive behavior do not go on to commit suicide, a history of such behavior places them at greater risk of suicide.
In any event, all acts of self-injury can be said to reflect personal breakdowns resulting from crisis of self-doubt, poor coping and problem solving skills, hopelessness and fear of abandonment. All suicide attempts must be treated as if it is an actual attempt. If an officer suspects an inmate has suicidal tendencies, they should notify a supervisor immediately.
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