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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
Time: 8:36 pm
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Results for self-harm
7 results foundAuthor: Powell, Jenelle Title: Self-Injurious Behaviour: A Review of the Literature and Implications for Corrections Summary: The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) is responsible for providing a safe and secure environment in which offenders can work towards becoming law-abiding citizens. Self-injurious behaviour (SIB) poses a serious challenge to CSC’s ability to provide this safe environment for offenders as well as for institutional staff. SIB can be defined as any type of direct bodily harm or disfigurement that is deliberately inflicted on oneself that is not considered to be socially acceptable, such as cutting, head banging, hair pulling, and ligature use. This literature review was undertaken to determine what is currently known about SIB and what gaps exist in order to inform future research and intervention strategies in federal institutions. Several attempts have been made to develop a classification system that would be useful for researchers and clinicians. Currently no adequate system has been developed and no one system is in widespread use. An empirically-derived classification system that accounts for the unique environment of a correctional facility would help increase understanding of the behaviour and target treatment to the particular needs of at risk individuals. It is difficult to ascertain an accurate prevalence rate of participation in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). The best estimate of prevalence rate for the general adult population is 4%. Prevalence rates of SIB occurring while incarcerated in the general population of correctional institutions range from 1-5%. Rates for women offenders are likely higher, with best estimates being around 23%. Offenders with mental health issues have increased rates that may be as high as 53%. Skin cutting has been found to be the most common type of NSSI. Numerous correlates of self-injurious behaviour have been found, including borderline personality disorder, history of trauma and abuse, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, eating disorders, same-sex attraction, and homosexuality, impulsivity, anger and aggression. Suicide has been found to be a correlate, but is a behaviour distinct from NSSI. Research has yet to determine the process by which NSSI is initiated and maintained. A wide variety of motivations for engaging in SIB have been proposed, although few have been empirically validated. The strongest support has been found for the use of SIB as a method of coping with negative emotions. While there is likely a large amount of overlap in motivations for self-injury between institutionalized and non-institutionalized populations, some unique motivations may exist in institutional populations. The current literature lacks large-scale, empirical research with incarcerated populations that adequately assesses NSSI. An increased understanding of NSSI within federal institutions could improve the safety of offenders and staff, as well as the treatment, management and prevention of NSSI in federal correctional facilities. Research is needed to determine the prevalence of NSSI, to establish a classification system that can be used with incarcerated populations, and determine the effect, if any, of institutionalization on NSSI. Most importantly, an increased understanding of the development and maintenance of NSSI is imperative for the development of appropriate strategies to manage this behaviour, including efforts to reduce and ultimately prevent its occurrence. Research is currently underway within CSC to address these gaps. Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2010. 67p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Report 2010 No. R-216: Accessed March 29, 2011 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/reports/r216/r216-eng.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Canada URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/reports/r216/r216-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 121199 Keywords: Mental Health CarePrisonersSelf-HarmSelf-Injury, Inmates (Canada) |
Author: Power, Jenelle Title: A Comparative Review of Suicide and Self-Injury Investigative Reports in a Canadian Federal Correctional Population Summary: The present investigation focuses the national investigation reports for all 80 male and 6 female offenders who were the subjects of national investigations for incidents of self-injury (including suicide attempts) or suicide while under the supervision of the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) between fiscal years 2003-2004 and 2007-2008. The offenders included were the subjects of investigations by the Investigations Branch of the CSC and were residing in CSC’s institutions or in the community during the incident. The study examines the cases of twenty offenders who were involved in incidents of self-injury and sixty-six cases of offenders who died by suicide. Eleven of the offenders who engaged in self-injury were involved in multiple self-injurious incidents that occurred in close temporal proximity and resulting in 51 self-injury events included in the study. The proportion of Aboriginal offenders in the population was comparable to the proportion in the overall federal offender population. The offenders in the suicide group appeared to be more likely to have longer sentences and more violent histories than those in the self-injury group. The proportion of the self-injury events that occurred in the Prairie and Quebec regions was low relative to the proportion of CSC’s population in these regions while the proportion of self-injury events that occurred in the Atlantic and Pacific regions was higher. Ligature use was by far the most common method used by offenders who died by suicide. In cases of self-injury, the most common method used was also ligature, followed by cutting. SIB was most likely to occur in segregation while suicide was most likely to occur in cells in the general population. In the majority of incidents of suicide and self-injury, there were precipitating events that could be identified in retrospect. However, these precipitating events were often not interpreted as significant events at the time and were usually events that are not uncommon among the offender population. The majority of offenders in both groups had a history of depression and/or hopelessness as well as self-injury. About one-third of the suicide group had family members or friends who had died by suicide. Offenders in the self-injury group were significantly more likely to have concurrent psychological disorders than those in the suicide group. Suicide and self-injury were more likely to occur on the weekends than during the week. Self-injury was more likely to occur in the evenings and during the winter months. Further research on self-injurious behaviour and suicide in federally sentenced offenders is required. Research taking place in the Research Branch will examine environmental and psychological factors associated with these behaviours in offenders. Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2010. 56p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Report 2010 No. R-221: Accessed March 29, 2011 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/reports/r221/r221-eng.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Canada URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/reports/r221/r221-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 121203 Keywords: Inmate SuicideMental Health CareSelf-HarmSelf-Injury, Inmates (Canada) |
Author: Gordon, Arthur Title: Self-Injury Incidents in CSC Institutions Over a Thirty-Month Period Summary: Between April 1, 2006, and September 30, 2008, 1,230 self-injury incidents were reported in the Offender Management System (OMS), a national database that contains information on all federal offenders, and/or in the Situation Reports (SITREP), which are daily reports designed to keep senior managers abreast of significant incidents across CSC. Descriptions of the incidents based on these sources were examined. The following are the main findings: • The number of self-injury incidents across Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) that were reported increased by 73% during the 30-month study period from 197 incidents (between April and September, 2006) to 341 incidents (April – September 2008). The pattern of change is similar whether the data are based on SITREP alone or the more complete dataset (OMS-SITREP) used in this study. The data do not, however, determine what factors drove this increase. The number of self harming incidents may be due to an actual increase in self injurious behaviour related possibly related to a changing offender profile, or to greater staff awareness and changes to reporting standards that occurred within CSC during this time period, or, indeed, other factors. • Women offenders were proportionately more likely than male offenders to engage in self-injurious behaviours. Women were more likely than men to self-injure more than once. • The number of self-injury incidents among Aboriginal offenders was greater than would be expected based on their population in the institutions. • The five treatment centres and the maximum/multi-security institutions had the most self-injury incidents, the most offenders who self-injured, and the most offenders who self-injured repeatedly. • Male offenders tended to self-injure by slashing or overdosing, while women offenders showed higher use of ligatures or head-banging. • Ninety percent of self-injury incidents resulted in no or minor injury to the offender. • Sixty-seven percent of offenders self-injured only once during the study period. While a similar percentage of men and women offenders engaged in self-injury more than once, women who repeatedly self-injured had more such incidents than did men. • Twenty-six of the 1,230 self-injury incidents resulted in death. However, 77% of the inmates who died had no previous documented incidents of self-injury during their incarceration suggesting that self-injury appears to be a distinct phenomenon that should be studied independently of attempted suicide. • Based on the results of this report, it can be concluded that data extraction through OMS queries is not sufficient to provide an accurate measure of self-injurious incidents due largely to variability in how such incidents are coded in OMS. Creating a field in OMS that would indicate whether an incident involved self-injury would provide a more efficient and reliable measure of self-injury. In addition, future research should focus on the psychological and behavioural characteristics of self-injuring offenders to better inform prevention, management and treatment options. Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2010. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Report 2010 Nº R-233: Accessed April 16, 2012 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/reports/r233/r233-eng.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Canada URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/reports/r233/r233-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 124980 Keywords: Inmate SuicideMental Health CareSelf-HarmSelf-Injury, Inmates (Canada) |
Author: Pope, Leah G. Title: Creating a Culture of Safety: Sentinel Event Reviews for Suicide and Self-Harm in Correctional Facilities Summary: Since 2011, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), through its Sentinel Events Initiative, has been investigating the feasibility of using a sentinel events approach to review and learn from errors in the criminal justice system such as wrongful convictions, eyewitness misidentifications, or incidents of suicide and self-harm in custody. Recognizing that adverse situations are rarely caused by a single event or the actions of an individual person, NIJ defines a sentinel event as a significant negative outcome that: 1) signals underlying weaknesses in a system or process; 2) is likely the result of compound errors; and 3) may provide, if properly analyzed and addressed, important keys to strengthening the system and preventing future adverse events or outcomes. With funding from NIJ, the Vera Institute of Justice (Vera) has been examining the applicability and appropriateness of using sentinel event reviews for incidents of suicide and serious self-harm in detention. This report focuses on these incidents as prime opportunities to implement sentinel event reviews in the criminal justice context. Details: New York: Vera Institute of Justice, 2017. 33p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 28, 2017 at: https://www.vera.org/publication_downloads/culture-of-safety-sentinel-event-suicide-self-harm-correctional-facilities/culture-of-safety.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://www.vera.org/publication_downloads/culture-of-safety-sentinel-event-suicide-self-harm-correctional-facilities/culture-of-safety.pdf Shelf Number: 141251 Keywords: Mental HealthMental Health ServicesPrison SuicidePrisonersSelf-HarmSuicide |
Author: New Zealand. Office of the Ombudsman Title: A question of restraint - Care and management for prisoners considered to be at risk of suicide and self-harm Summary: New Zealand signed the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) in September 2003 and ratified OPCAT in March 2007. The objective of OPCAT is to establish a system of regular visits by international and national bodies to places of detention in order to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. OPCAT is incorporated into New Zealand law through the Crimes of Torture Act 1989 (COTA). The Ombudsman was designated a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) in respect of: - prisons; - premises approved or agreed under the Immigration Act 1987; and - health and disability places of detention. Unlike other human rights treaty processes that deal with violations of rights after the fact, OPCAT is primarily concerned with preventing violations. Our visits are carried out with a view to strengthening protections against ill treatment and improving conditions of detention, taking into account international human rights standards. This preventive approach aims to ensure that sufficient safeguards against ill treatment are in place and that any risks, poor practices or systemic problems are identified and addressed. Each place of detention we visit contains a wide variety of people, often with complex and competing needs. Some detainees are difficult to deal with - demanding and vulnerable - others are more engaging and constructive. All have to be managed within a framework that is consistent and fair to all. While we appreciate the complexity of running such facilities and caring for detainees, our obligation is to ensure that appropriate standards are maintained in the facilities, and to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. By their very nature, prisons house difficult to manage, sometimes dangerous and often vulnerable prisoners who can push boundaries and challenge the system. In coercive establishments such as prisons, there is a danger that security is over-emphasised to the detriment of the dignity of prisoners. This year we found examples where order and security prevailed too easily over dignity and fairness; specifically, the care and treatment of adult prisoners considered to be at risk of suicide and self-harm. This report highlights our observations and findings over the reporting period July 2015 - June 2016 and focuses on the comprehensive inspections of five prison sites: Arohata Women's Prison, Manawatu Prison, Rolleston Prison, Invercargill Prison and Otago Corrections Facility. Additional visits to Auckland Prison, Auckland Regional Women's Corrections Facility, Auckland South Corrections Facility (managed by SERCO), Christchurch Men's Prison and Rimutaka Prison are also referred to in the body of the report and help inform the overall findings in this report. Details: Wellington, NZ: Office of the Ombudsman, 2017. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 4, 2017 at: http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/system/paperclip/document_files/document_files/1905/original/a_question_of_restraint_march_2017.pdf?1493174263 Year: 2017 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/system/paperclip/document_files/document_files/1905/original/a_question_of_restraint_march_2017.pdf?1493174263 Shelf Number: 145304 Keywords: Health CarePrison SuicidesPrisoner RestraintSelf-HarmSuicide |
Author: Pope, Laura Title: Self-Harm by Adult Men in Prison: A Rapid Evidence Assessment Summary: A Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) was undertaken to improve understanding of self-harm among adult men in prison, and to develop and inform thinking and action towards the management and treatment of self-harm in prisons. This is particularly important given the recent upward trend in self-harm incidents. This review explores the distinct characteristics and motivations of men who self-harm as a group of individuals that have previously received little attention in academic literature. For the purpose of this review, the HMPPS definition of self-harm has been used: 'any act where a prisoner deliberately harms themselves irrespective of the method, intent or severity of any injury' in which no underlying assumptions of intent or motivation are made. The primary research questions to be addressed in this REA are: 1. Why do adult men in prison self-harm? 2. What works to reduce and/or manage self-harm among adult men in prison? REA methodology was employed to search a range of databases for relevant literature. The review focused on male prisoners over the age of 18. To be selected for inclusion, studies had to clearly distinguish self-harm as a separate behaviour or outcome from suicide and only studies published in English in the last 15 years were included. International literature was considered and the comparability and generalisability of any non-UK studies have been carefully considered and presented within the findings of the review. From an initial sample of approximately 2,137 papers that were identified during the search process on why men self-harm, 14 studies met the inclusion criteria and were assessed in detail. The type and quality of research design of included studies varies considerably. Five studies used the highest quality methods using control and/or comparison group designs. The remainder of the studies use either pre-or post comparison only design, or were correlational or qualitative in nature. Findings from all 14 of these studies were drawn upon in developing the conclusions of this REA. The search process focusing on what works to reducce/manage self-harm identified an initial sample of approximately 2,303 papers, although only two studies met the inclusion criteria. The wide variation in definitions of self-harm and the wide range of self-harming behaviours under study is not always adequately defined in research. Sample sizes tend to be small and are limited in their design. As a result, the literature is contradictory in places and limits the generalisability of some findings. Details: London: Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service, 2018. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Analytical Series 2018: Accessed October 3, 2018 at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/739521/self-harm-adult-men-prison-2018.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/739521/self-harm-adult-men-prison-2018.pdf Shelf Number: 151641 Keywords: PrisonersSelf InjurySelf-HarmSuicide |
Author: Howard, Flora Fitzalan Title: Learning to Cope: An Exploratory Qualitative Study of the Experience of Men who have Desisted from Self-Harm in Prison Summary: This study aimed to develop the evidence base for what helps people to stop harming themselves in custody, and in doing so help to inform effective ways for prison managers and staff to respond to the rise in self-harm incidents and provide appropriate, helpful care. Understanding the experiences of people who have successfully learned to cope differently and refrain from harming themselves can helpfully inform methods or strategies to tackle this problem. This in-depth qualitative study asked how men in prison, who have previously self-harmed but do so no longer, describe the experience of learning to manage their self-harming? What helped or hindered the change process? What is their desistance story? Details: London: HM Prison and Probation Service, 2019. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 10, 2019 at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/794267/learning-cope-self-harm_in_prison-research.pdf Year: 2019 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/learning-to-cope-an-exploratory-qualitative-study-of-the-experience-of-men-who-have-desisted-from-self-harm-in-prison Shelf Number: 156341 Keywords: Desistance Evidence-Based Policy Prison Managers Prisoners Qualitative Study Self-Harm |