Preventing Suicide in Prisons, Part II

Crisis ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 122-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc S. Daigle ◽  
Anasseril E. Daniel ◽  
Greg E. Dear ◽  
Patrick Frottier ◽  
Lindsay M. Hayes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Task Force ◽  
International Association ◽  
Correctional Officers ◽  
Community Services ◽  
Correctional Systems ◽  
Prevention Activities ◽  
Prison Systems

Abstract. The International Association for Suicide Prevention created a Task Force on Suicide in Prisons to better disseminate the information in this domain. One of its objectives was to summarize suicide-prevention activities in the prison systems. This study of the Task Force uncovered many differences between countries, although mental health professionals remain central in all suicide prevention activities. Inmate peer-support and correctional officers also play critical roles in suicide prevention but there is great variation in the involvement of outside community workers. These differences could be explained by the availability of resources, by the structure of the correctional and community services, but mainly by the different paradigms about suicide prevention. While there is a common and traditional paradigm that suicide prevention services are mainly offered to individuals by mental health services, correctional systems differ in the way they include (or not) other partners of suicide prevention: correctional officers, other employees, peer inmates, chaplains/priests, and community workers. Circumstances, history, and national cultures may explain such diversity but they might also depend on the basic way we think about suicide prevention at both individual and environmental levels.

scholarly journals Is psychiatric reform a strategy for reducing the mental health budget? The case of Brazil

2007 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sérgio Baxter Andreoli ◽  
Naomar Almeida-Filho ◽  
Denise Martin ◽  
Mário Dinis M L Mateus ◽  
Jair de Jesus Mari
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Public Investment ◽  
Community Services ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Psychiatric Reform ◽  
Psychiatric Admissions ◽  
Reducing Costs ◽  
New Community ◽  
Psychiatric Beds

OBJECTIVE: To investigate trends in the provision of mental health services and financing in Brazil. METHOD: Data from DATASUS (the Brazilian Unified Health Computerized System) with free access in the web were collected regarding the number of beds, the development of new community centers, the number of mental health professionals, and costs involved from 1995 to 2005. RESULTS: In ten years, the number of psychiatric beds decreased 41% (5.4 to 3.2 per 10,000 inhabitants) while community services have increased nine-fold (0.004 to 0.037 per 10,000 inhabitants). Psychologists and social workers have accounted for three and two-fold, respectively, as much hirings as psychiatrists. Psychiatric admissions accounted for 95.5% of the budget in 1995 and 49% in 2005, and the expenses with community services and medication have increased 15% each. As a whole, the expenses in mental health decreased by 26.7% (2.66 to 1.95 US$ per capita). CONCLUSION: There has been a clear switch from hospital to community psychiatric care in Brazil, where the system can now provide a diversity of treatments and free access to psychotropics. However, the coverage of community services is precarious, and the reform was not accompanied by an increased public investment in mental health. The psychiatric reform is not a strategy for reducing costs; it necessarily implies increasing investments if countries decide to have a better care of those more disadvantaged.

A decision support tool to inform local suicide prevention activity in Greater Western Sydney (Australia)

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (10) ◽  
pp. 983-993 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Page ◽  
Jo-An Atkinson ◽  
William Campos ◽  
Mark Heffernan ◽  
Shahana Ferdousi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Health Network ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Prevention Activities ◽  
Sydney Australia

Objectives: This study describes the development of a decision support tool to identify the combination of suicide prevention activities and service priorities likely to deliver the greatest reductions in suicidal behaviour in Western Sydney (Australia) over the period 2018–2028. Methods: A dynamic simulation model for the WentWest – Western Sydney Primary Health Network population-catchment was developed in partnership with primary health network stakeholders based on defined pathways to mental health care and suicidal behaviour, and which represented the current incidence of suicide and attempted suicide in Western Sydney. A series of scenarios relating to potential suicide prevention activities and service priorities identified by primary health network stakeholders were investigated to identify the combination of interventions associated with the largest reductions in the forecast number of attempted suicide and suicide cases for a 10-year follow-up period. Results: The largest number of cases averted for both suicide and attempted suicide was associated with (1) post-suicide attempt assertive aftercare (6.1% for both attempted suicide and suicide), (2) improved community support and reductions in psychological distress in the community (5.1% for attempted suicide and 14.8% for suicide), and (3) reductions in the proportion of those lost to services following a mental health service contact (10.5% for both attempted suicide and suicide). In combination, these interventions were forecast to avert approximately 29.7% of attempted suicides and 37.1% of suicides in the primary health network catchment over the 10-year period. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the utility of dynamic simulation models, co-designed with multi-disciplinary stakeholder groups, to capture and analyse complex mental health and suicide prevention regional planning problems. The model can be used by WentWest – Western Sydney Primary Health Network as a decision support tool to guide the commissioning of future service activity, and more efficiently frame the monitoring and evaluation of interventions as they are implemented in Western Sydney.

Assessing functionality in Schizophrenia: The psychosocial remission in Schizophrenia scale (PSRS)

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 2072-2072
Author(s):  
Y. Barak
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Community Services ◽  
Psychiatric Nurses ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Rater Reliability ◽  
Achievable Goal ◽  
Symptomatic Remission ◽  
Item Scale

BackgroundRemission, both symptomatic and psychosocial, is now an achievable goal in a substantial proportion of schizophrenia patients.Objectiveto develop a brief, clinician rated scale for the assessment of psychosocial remission in schizophrenia (the PSRS). The scale is to match the quantification of symptomatic remission as delineated by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) task force.Methoda “bank” of 124 questions pertaining to psychosocial remission was derived from published scales reflecting two domains: quality of life (QoL) and activities of daily living (ADL). Psychiatrists, residents, psychiatric nurses and community nurses were presented with the questions. All were asked to choose the 8 items they considered as reflecting the essence of psychosocial remission. Inter-rater reliability of the final scale version was assessed amongst psychiatrists.Resultsthe questions' “bank” was reviewed by 429 mental health professionals. The four items found to be most frequently sanctioned in the QoL domain were: a. familial relations (endorsed by 78% of participants), b. understanding and self-awareness (46%), c. energy (58%) and d. interest in every-day life (38%). The four items sanctioned in the I-ADL domain were: a. self-care (86%), b. activism (65%), c. responsibility for medications (54%) and d. use of community services (32%). Inter-rater reliability amongst 70 psychiatrists ranged from 0.67 to 0.83.Conclusionthe PSRS is an 8-item scale quantifying psychosocial remission in schizophrenia in a manner that complements symptomatic assessment of remission. The PSRS may be useful for both research and clinical evaluation.

scholarly journals Preventing Suicide in Prisons, Part I

Crisis ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 113-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norbert Konrad ◽  
Marc S. Daigle ◽  
Anasseril E. Daniel ◽  
Greg E. Dear ◽  
Patrick Frottier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Task Force ◽  
International Association ◽  
International Comparisons ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
World Health ◽  
Correctional Facilities ◽  
Prevention Services ◽  
Correctional Settings ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract. In 2000 the Department of Mental Health of the World Health Organization (WHO) published a guide named Preventing Suicide. A Resource for Prison Officers as part of the WHO worldwide initiative for the prevention of suicide. In 2007 there are new epidemiological data on prison suicide, a more detailed discussion of risk factors accounting for the generally higher rate of suicide in correctional settings in comparison to the general population, and several strategies for developing screening instruments. As a first step, this paper presents an update of the WHO guide by the Task Force on Suicide in Prisons, created by the International Association for Suicide Prevention. A second paper, by the same Task Force, will present some international comparisons of suicide prevention services in correctional facilities.

scholarly journals Suicide mitigation: a compassionate approach to suicide prevention

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 276-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alys Cole-King ◽  
Gill Green ◽  
Linda Gask ◽  
Kevin Hines ◽  
Stephen Platt
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Everyday Clinical Practice ◽  
Suicidal Person ◽  
Do So

SummaryThe death of a patient by suicide can severely affect mental health professionals, particularly if it occurs despite major efforts to intervene. Notwithstanding the difficulties faced by clinicians, suicide prevention remains of paramount importance in order to help save lives. This article seeks to promote a pragmatic and compassionate biopsychosocial response using evidence-based interventions to reduce suicide. It introduces practical strategies that psychiatrists can use in everyday clinical practice, in particular the paradigm shift of suicide mitigation to help prevent suicide. We believe that every encounter with a suicidal person is an opportunity to intervene to reduce their distress and, potentially, to save a life. We believe that it is no longer acceptable for clinicians to state that if patients wish to kill themselves they can do so, in the absence of any attempt at a compassionate intervention.

scholarly journals The COVID-19 Pandemic and Italian Public Mental Health Services: Experience and Future Directions

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 642-644
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Pelizza ◽  
Simona Pupo
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Community Services ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
Public Mental Health Service ◽  
Public Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Service Organization

The COVID-19 pandemic has crosses every health care area (from primary care to specialist ones), leading to a review of all public health policies. The use of smart working allows important technological innovations, but it must be accompanied by a review of hospital and residential programs and locations. Since many institution are talking about economic investments for mental health (a crucial area for a full recovery of the society), specific funds are needed in mental health professionals (eg, psychologists), skills, and innovation of locations and technology, such as the conversion of psychiatric wards to community services that carefully must consider the patient experience and clinician’s point of view. Some considerations on the COVID-19 experience in Italy are reported, and suggestions on future directions for public mental health service organization are hypothesized.

scholarly journals THE CHALLENGES OF SCHOOL-BASED YOUTH SUICIDE PREVENTION: EXPERIENCES AND PERCEPTIONS OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN SOUTH AFRICAN SCHOOLS

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-44
Author(s):  
Maryke Woolf ◽  
Jason Bantjes ◽  
Ashraf Kagee
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
South African ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Suicidal Behaviour ◽  
School Based

Youth suicidal behaviour poses a significant public health concern. Mental health care professionals working in schools have an important role to play in youth suicide prevention initiatives, although little is known of the experiences of this group of professionals in low and middle income countries (LMIC’s). The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of mental health professionals working in South African schools and to document their insights, attitudes and beliefs regarding youth suicidal behaviour. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven school-based mental health care professionals and data were analysed using Thematic Analysis. Participants reported that they relied on a reactive strategy by responding to youths who were in crisis. They were challenged by a lack of support from faculty staff, a lack of access to resources, and heavy caseloads. Findings highlight the need for a proactive and collaborative approach to suicide prevention among mental health care professionals, teachers and parents in South African schools and improved training and supervision.

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