In the Correctional industry, inmate suicides and self-harm is a big concern. We must do whatever necessary to prevent it. Below are some best practices you may consider. Training is a never-ending endeavor. Creative Corrections, LLC does conduct training in suicide prevention and I'm certain other companies do as well. It's really something that should be considered.
The first phase is the empowerment of your staff and inmate population. The focus is to have staff and inmates understand and realize they have the ability and power to help keep someone safe. No one should need permission to initiate suicide watch protocols. No one should need a doctor to determine if someone should or should not be placed on suicide watch. Staff need to know they can initiate an inmate on suicide watch no matter the shift or the time. Additionally, your inmate population must understand they can report to any staff member any information or concern they might have about an individual in your custody contemplating self-harm.
Education and training are the focus of the second phase. Most of our staff have had an educational background or life experiences centered on criminal justice. How can we as leaders expected our staff to know how to do something if we have not trained them how to do it? They understand how to apply restraints, but they are not clinicians. We must train our staff to understand the concept of self-harm, not just the signs. It is through understanding and conceptualization, that we can rid our correctional environment of the myths surrounding self-harm. If our staff understand the “Why” of self-harm, we can more effectively combat the “what” and “how” of self-harm. We must also train our inmate population. They need to know to whom they can share their pain and questions. How asking for help is really a sign of strength, not weakness. And, how to shed the cultural stereotypes and embrace the benefits of mental health hygiene.
The third phase is your time to shine as a leader. Here you must “Lead from the Front” and reinforce the empowerment of staff and inmates and the education and training they have received. Do not be afraid to put someone on suicide watch, back your staff when they want to place someone on suicide watch and walk and talk with staff and inmates about self-harm. Your staff and population will follow your lead. If you treat this like it is not worth your time, so will they. The first time you disagree with the placement of someone on suicide watch or disregard the information an inmate gives you about another inmate wanting to harm themselves, all the work your administration has done is lost.
Ask your team, “are we doing enough when it comes to self-harm or are we just waiting for it to happen?” Be pro-active. Remember failing to plan is planning to fail.
Regional Vice President Retired
3wCongratulations to all involved. Outstanding leadership reflects the integrity we need in corrections