Epidemiological survey of suicide ideation and acts and other deliberate self‐harm among offenders in the community under supervision of the Probation Service in England and Wales

Conclusions and implicationsOur adjusted findings indicate that 25‐40% of offenders serving all or part of their sentence in the community have a lifetime history of self‐harm, which is similar to the rate among prisoners, and are at very much higher risk of further such acts or completed suicide than the general population. At a time of change in delivery of probation services the implications are that
rates of suicide and other forms of deliberate self‐harm should be continually assessed in all probation areas, particularly with reference to service changes;
the relationship between deliberate acts of self‐harm, suicidal ideation and completion of suicide should be investigated prospectively in larger studies;
probation services are likely to need mental health expertise to manage these risks Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Source: Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health - February 1, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Graham Pluck, Charlie Brooker Tags: Original Article Source Type: research