Transcript Finnish prison suicides

Finnish prison suicides
from 1st January 2001 to 31st December 2010
All Deaths
Cause of death
N
%
Suicide
36
44.4
Natural death /
illness
20
24.7
Violent death
3
3.7
Undetermined
22
27.2
All
81
100.0
Suicide trends
Annual number of suicides
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
The annual suicide rate compared with the
mean daily average prison population
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
199119921995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010
Is it possible to draw a portrait of a
prisoner who commits suicide?
35/36 were male
Median age 32 (22–59)
22/36 were unmarried
30/36 were done by
hanging
Drugs and health care
At the time of death, 72 % had psychiatric
medication: most commonly benzodiazepines.
Antipsychotic medication 42 %
8/15 the dosage was antipsychotic
Antidepressant medication 44 %
Self-reported lifetime drug or alcohol abuse was
found in 81% of the cases.
Drugs and health care
A week prior to the suicide, 58% had had a
contact with the prison health care.
Psychiatric hospitalization preceded 17% of the
suicides.
Time from discharge varied 1–290 (mean 77) days.
39 % had been at some point in their lives in a
psychiatric hospital
Odd behaviour
9 had a mention in their
records of odd or peculiar
behaviour
Criminological background
36% were first timers
The time from hearing the court’s final conviction to
the suicide varied 12–452 (mean 171) days.
Half were on remand
47 % had done a crime of violence
64 % had at least once been in prison for a crime of
violence
Time from imprisonment to
suicide
A week or less
1 week1month
1-3 months
3 months-1
year
Over 1 year
Springtime
May was the peak month for suicides
very few suicides occurred during September–
December.
The portrait
The beginning of the
sentence
On remand
Age under 30
Male
Spring, esp. May
Drug abuse previous to
imprisonement
What about all those
undetermined deaths?
22 open verdicts during 2001 – 2010
8/22 happened outside prison (on leave)
Abstract
Finnish prison suicides
Background
Among prisoners, the most common cause of death is suicide. The prevalence is decreasing in line with the trend in the Finnish society in general.
Aim
To characterize prisoners who commit suicide in Finland.
Methods
A descriptive register-based study comprised all the prisoners who committed a confirmed suicide from 1st January 2001 to 31st December 2010.
We studied the patient records and the data concerning sentences and the circumstances of death.
Results
Of the 36 persons, one was female. The median age was 32 (22–59). Half were remand prisoners and 36% were first-timers. During the first week
of imprisonment occurred 17% of the suicides, during the first month 31%, and during three months 60%. All but 6 were committed by hanging.
May was the peak month and very few suicides occurred during September–December.
At the time of death, 72% had psychiatric medication: most commonly benzodiazepines used for withdrawal symptoms. Self-reported lifetime
drug or alcohol abuse was found in 81% of the cases. A week prior to the suicide, 58% had had a contact with the prison health care. Psychiatric
hospitalization preceded 17% of the suicides, time from discharge varied 1–290 (mean 77) days. The time from hearing the court’s final
conviction to the suicide varied 12–452 (mean 171) days.
Conclusions
Prisoners who are in the beginning of their sentence, who report drug abuse, and who have tranquilizers for withdrawal symptoms are at risk,
especially during springtime. Restricting the availability of hanging equipment could prevent suicides.