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. 2023 Nov 28;19(4):565-577.
doi: 10.1108/IJPH-02-2023-0012. Epub 2023 May 3.

The incidence and profile of self-harm among prisoners: findings from the Self-Harm Assessment and Data Analysis Project 2017-2019

Niall McTernan  1 , Eve Griffin  2 , Grace Cully  2 , Enda Kelly  3 , Sarah Hume  3 , Paul Corcoran  2
Affiliations

The incidence and profile of self-harm among prisoners: findings from the Self-Harm Assessment and Data Analysis Project 2017-2019

Niall McTernan et al. Int J Prison Health. .

Abstract

Purpose: Internationally, rates of suicide and lifetime self-harm are higher in prisoners compared to the general population. This study aims to identify specific characteristics of self-harming behaviour and to establish a profile of prisoners who engage in self-harm.

Design/methodology/approach: Data from the Self-Harm Assessment and Data Analysis Project (SADA) on self-harm episodes in prisons in the Republic of Ireland during 2017-2019 was used. Annual rates per 1,000 were calculated by age and gender.

Findings: The rate of self-harm between 2017 and 2019 was 31 per 1,000 prisoners for men and six times higher at 184 per 1,000 prisoners for women. The rate of self-harm was twice as high among prisoners on remand than sentenced prisoners (60.5 versus 31.3 per 1,000). The highest rates of self-harm among sentenced prisoners were observed among 18-29-year-old men (45 per 1,000) and women (125 per 1,000). The rate of self-harm was higher among women prisoners in all age groups. Contributory factors associated with self-harm were mainly related to mental health but also linked to a prisoner's environment and relationships.

Practical implications: There is a need to ensure access to timely and suitable mental health services, including both appropriate referral and provision of evidence-based mental health interventions to address the needs of these cohorts.

Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first national study to systematically examine incidence and patterns of self-harm among the prison population in Ireland. The recording of severity/intent of each episode is novel when assessing self-harm among the prison population.

Keywords: Incarcerated; Prisoners; Self-harm; Suicide.

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References

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Further reading

    1. Favril, L. (2021), “Epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention of suicidal thoughts and behaviour in prisons: a literature review”, Psychologica Belgica, Vol. 61 No. 1, pp. 341-355.
    1. Iqtidar, M., Sharma, K., Mullaney, R., Kelly, E., Keevans, M., Cullinane, M. and Mohan, D. (2018), “Deaths in custody in the Irish prison service: 5-year retrospective study of drug toxicology and unnatural deaths”, BJPsych Open, Vol. 4 No. 5, pp. 401-403.
    1. Irish Prison Service (2022), “About the Irish prison service”, available at: www.irishprisons.ie/about-us/ (accessed 6 December 2022).

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