Volume 30, Issue 2, 2021
DOI: 10.24205/03276716.2020.4092
Suicidal thoughts among sentenced adult male prison inmates of Sulaimani Campus of Prisoners
Abstract
Background and objective: Given the special environment of prisons, inmates usually
undergo isolation, shame, distrust, hopelessness, and fear, leading to an increase in the
rate of suicidal ideation and attempt. The present study was carried out to figure out the
correlation between suicidal ideation and relevant variables among a population of prison
inmates.
Methods: Using a case-control design, the present cross-sectional epidemiological study
was carried out on 231 prisoners imprisoned in Chaksazi Gawran Prison in Sulaimani, the
Kurdistan region of Iraq, from May 2016 to January 2017. The study also consisted of 231
individuals from the general population. The participants’ suicidal ideation was assessed
using the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation, and their demographic data through a
questionnaire, which was completed through face-to-face interviews. In order to compare the two groups, the collected data were analyzed through Social Sciences (SPSS
version 21).
Results: The mean age of the prisoners and controls was respectively 34.35 and 37.87
years. The cases and controls were found to be significantly different regarding their
suicide intent (p<0.001), previous suicide attempt (p=0.0001), family history of suicide
(p=0.007), family history of mental illness (p=0.0001), chronic physical disease (p=0.001),
and substance use (p=0.0001). Therefore, these factors were considered as risk factors
for suicidal ideation and behavior. The type of crimes the prisoners had committed was
not significantly correlated with their suicidal ideation (p=0.12), while the duration of
their imprisonment was significantly correlated with their suicide ideation (p=0.0001).
Conclusion: The prison environment can intensify feelings such as hopelessness,
loneliness, shame, and fear, which can, in turn, lead to an increase in suicide ideation.
Prison inmates with a previous suicide attempt, family history of suicide, family history of
mental illness, chronic physical disease, substance use, and long duration of their
imprisonment are more likely to develop suicidal ideation and commit suicide; therefore, they need to be identified and provided with specialized psychiatric consultation
Keywords
Suicidal thoughts, male prison inmates, Sulaimani Campus of Prisoners