Finnish prison suicides

from 1st January 2001 to 31st December 2010

All Deaths

Cause of death

N %

Suicide 36 44.4

Natural death / illness

20 24.7

Violent death 3 3.7

Undetermined 22 27.2

All 81 100.0

Suicide trends

Is it possible to draw a portrait of a prisoner who

commits suicide?35/36 were male

Median age 32 (22–59)

22/36 were unmarried

30/36 were done by hanging

Drugs and health care

At the time of death, 72 % had psychiatric medication: most commonly benzodiazepines.

Antipsychotic medication 42 % 8/15 the dosage was antipsychotic

Antidepressant medication 44 %

Self-reported lifetime drug or alcohol abuse was found in 81% of the cases.

Drugs and health care

A week prior to the suicide, 58% had had a contact with the prison health care.

Psychiatric hospitalization preceded 17% of the suicides.

Time from discharge varied 1–290 (mean 77) days.

39 % had been at some point in their lives in a psychiatric hospital

Odd behaviour

9 had a mention in their records of odd or peculiar behaviour

Criminological background

36% were first timers

The time from hearing the court’s final conviction to the suicide varied 12–452 (mean 171) days.

Half were on remand

47 % had done a crime of violence

64 % had at least once been in prison for a crime of violence

Time from imprisonment to suicide

Springtime

May was the peak month for suicides

very few suicides occurred during September–December. 

The portrait

The beginning of the sentence

On remand

Age under 30

Male

Spring, esp. May

Drug abuse previous to imprisonement

What about all those undetermined deaths?

22 open verdicts during 2001 – 2010

8/22 happened outside prison (on leave)

Abstract

Finnish prison suicides BackgroundAmong prisoners, the most common cause of death is suicide. The prevalence is decreasing in line with the trend in the Finnish society in general.AimTo characterize prisoners who commit suicide in Finland.MethodsA descriptive register-based study comprised all the prisoners who committed a confirmed suicide from 1st January 2001 to 31st December 2010. We studied the patient records and the data concerning sentences and the circumstances of death.ResultsOf the 36 persons, one was female. The median age was 32 (22–59). Half were remand prisoners and 36% were first-timers. During the first week of imprisonment occurred 17% of the suicides, during the first month 31%, and during three months 60%. All but 6 were committed by hanging. May was the peak month and very few suicides occurred during September–December. At the time of death, 72% had psychiatric medication: most commonly benzodiazepines used for withdrawal symptoms. Self-reported lifetime drug or alcohol abuse was found in 81% of the cases. A week prior to the suicide, 58% had had a contact with the prison health care. Psychiatric hospitalization preceded 17% of the suicides, time from discharge varied 1–290 (mean 77) days. The time from hearing the court’s final conviction to the suicide varied 12–452 (mean 171) days.ConclusionsPrisoners who are in the beginning of their sentence, who report drug abuse, and who have tranquilizers for withdrawal symptoms are at risk, especially during springtime. Restricting the availability of hanging equipment could prevent suicides.