1. Mental Health in the Correctional System
Making Choices for Safety and Well-Being

2. Self-Directed Violence: Suicidality and Self-Injury
Module 13

3. Suicide vs. Self-Injury
What’s the difference?

4. Suicide

5. Suicidality It is an emergency Most do not want to die
Most want to be free of the pain they are feeling
Could be physical or psychological pain
Some want to free others from the pain they think they are causing

6. Signs of Suicidality Threatening to hurt or kill themselves
Seeking access to ways to kill themselves (e.g., pills, weapons)
Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide
Changes in mood, or feelings of hopelessness, rage, anger, or anxiety
Giving away possessions
Acting recklessly or engaging in risky activities
Withdrawing from friends and family
Substance use

7. What Can You Do? Don’t avoid the subject
Mentioning it will not “give them the idea”
You can ask directly, with compassion

8. Self-Injury

9. Self-Injury Does not mean they are suicidal
A way to cope with suffering
A way to feel something other than numbness

10. Common Signs of Self-Injury
Cutting
Scratching
Biting
Burning
Hitting
Hitting hard surfaces
Unexplained injuries
Concealing injuries

11. Self-Injury is Coping
It’s often a sign of great emotional suffering or numbness.
It’s a sign they need a better way of coping.

12. Heightened Risks
Higher risk of suicide than those who don’t self- harm.
Risk of infections and complications from injuries.

13. What Can You Do? You can ask directly
It is a crisis and should be handled immediately
Alert mental health staff
Let them know about any self-injury
Let them know if it suddenly becomes more severe
Follow your institution’s procedures

14. Take Precautions

15. What Not to Say Don’t argue Listen to them Take them seriously
Don’t use guilt
Don’t minimize their problems
Don’t “call their bluff”

16. What Can I Say?
Activity

17. Activity Debrief

18. Thank You