Suicide Prevention Resources

SUICIDE PREVENTION

This webpage contains a variety of suicide prevention resources, including general suicide prevention resources, as well as resources specific to suicide prevention in a correctional environment.

COMPREHENSIVE SUICIDE PREVENTION RESOURCE PAGES

• American Association of Suicidology Website
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• CDC Suicide Resources and Statistics
• International Association for Suicide Prevention
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center
• US Marshals Service Suicide Prevention Webpage
• World Health Organization Suicide Prevention Resources

FEDERAL, STATE, AND COUNTY SPECIFIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

• Suicide Prevention Program Federal Bureau of Prisons Program Statement (Policy)

ARTICLES AND REPORTS

• 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention  Goals and Objectives for Action, a 2012 report of the US Surgeon General
• Bibliography of Suicide Prevention Articles
• Inmate Suicide Prevention Study  A 2009 Oregon Department of Corrections study
• NIC National Study of Jail Suicides
• Preventing Suicide in Prison  A Collaborative Responsibility of Administrative, Custodial, and Clinical Staff by Anasseril Daniel
• Preventing Suicides in Jails and Prisons  A 2007 World Health Organization report
• Prison Suicide: An Overview and Guide to Prevention  A 1995 NIC report
• Suicide in Correctional Facilities by Albert Amicis.  A 2009 article describing two initiatives:  a suicide prevention program and inmate watch program
• Suicide Prevention Taskforce Report  An Oklahoma Department of Corrections report
• University of MD Suicide Prevention Articles  9 brief summaries of key articles related to suicide prevention in jails and prisons

BOOKS

• Building a Therapeutic Alliance with the Suicidal Patient edited by Konrad Michel & David Jobes
• Cognitive Therapy for Suicidal Patients: Scientific and Clinical Applications by Amy Wenzel, Gregory Brown, & Aaron Beck
• The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide: Guidance for Working with Suicidal Clients by Thomas Joiner, Kimberly Van Orden, Tracy Witte, & David Rudd
• The Practical Art of Suicide Assessment:  A Guide for Mental Health Professionals and Substance Abuse Counselors by Shawn Christopher Shea
• The Suicidal Patient:  Clinical and Legal Standards of Care by Bruce Bongar

TRAINING EVENTS AND RESOURCES

• Correctional Health Care: Suicide Prevention  A training manual developed by NIC.
• Lessons Learned  An overview of proven suicide prevention strategies for correctional administrators
• Suicide Risk Assessment Training for Clinicials - Federal Bureau of Prisons Presentation
• Suicide Prevention in Juvenile Correctional Facilities  Training resources specifically for staff working with juvenile populations
• Suicide Prevention Instructor's Manual  From Vermont Department of Corrections
• Suicide Prevention Training  From Vermont Department of Corrections, includes a video and Powerpoint slides.
• Suicide Prevention Training by Lindsay Hays, from the 2011 Mental Health Network Annual Meeting
• Suicide Prevention Training for Psychologists  A sample presentation from the Federal Bureau of Prison's Annual Training for psychologists

SPECIAL TOPICS

Screening and Assessment:

• Jail Suicide Assessment Tool (JSAT) Manual
• Avoiding the Malpractice Snare: Documenting Suicide Risk Assessment by Skip Simpson and Michael Stacy.  This 2004 Journal Of Psychiatric Practice article outlines the importance of well-documented suicide risk assessments.
• Suicide Risk Assessment Quality Assurance Tool:  The Federal Bureau of Prisons developed a quality assurance tool to review and provide feedback to clinicians regarding suicide risk assessment documentation.  The following links contain the the Suicide Risk Assessment Quality Tool, as well as a blank copy of the tool to facilitate provision of feedback to clinicians:  Suicide Risk Assessment Quality Assurance Tool and Blank Copy of Suicide Risk Assessment Quality Assurance Tool

Safety Resources/Means Restriction:

• Cut Down Tools:  Gerber Tools
• Harvard University Means Restriction Resources  Although this site focuses on guns, it also contains useful information related to means restriction in general and material which may be relevant to staff suicide prevention efforts in your facilities.
• Safety Smocks/Blankets:  PMP Inc., Ferguson Safety Products

Treatment Services:

• Safety Plans  A Powerpoint presentation outlining a simple, brief clinical intervention targeting at risk offenders.