Suicide in Indian prisons

Prison suicide rates worldwide are around three times higher in men and nine women than those the general population,1Fazel S Ramesh T Hawton K Suicide prisons: an international study of prevalence contributory factors.Lancet Psychiatry. 2017; 4: 946-952Summary Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (86) Google Scholar underscoring urgent need to address this issue. population-based research on prevalence, trends, magnitude India is sparse inconsistent,2Sawant N Indian prisoners.Ann 2018; 2: 1Crossref which has limited development prevention programmes specific for prison custodial settings. We examined magnitude, patterns prisons over a period 20 years (2000–19), taking data from only national public database suitable purpose (the Government India's National Crime Records Bureau).3National BureauPrison statistics India.https://ncrb.gov.in/en/prison-statistics-indiaDate accessed: May 19, 2021Google Between 2000 2019, while total population grew by nearly 30%, its doubled, 272 079 478 600 people. The latest Bureau report3National indicates that 95·80% people who incarcerated men, 69·10% living awaiting trial. comprised 6·24% all deaths reported between Jan 1, 2015, Dec 31, 2019.3National doubled years, 12·12 per 100 000 people, 2001, 24·23 2019 (figure). In were 2·3 population. Even considering deficiencies differences reporting systems populations population, disparity is, nevertheless, cause concern. average rate 2015–19, 23·6 equivalent USA, but lower France Belgium (90 people).1Fazel Although reasons such variability seem unclear, we hypothesise some systemic factors, as open jail dormitory barracks, might have influence lesser prisons. Consistently with findings other parts world, death hanging (from 82·0% 2016 93·1% 2019) was most frequent method prisons,3National also case A meta-analysis suggested risk factors included serving life sentence, having previously attempted suicide, recent or ongoing suicidal ideation, current psychiatric disorder diagnosis, being placed solitary confinement no social visits.4Zhong Senior M Yu R et al.Risk systematic review meta-analysis.Lancet Public Health. 2021; 6: e164-e174Summary (13) WHO International Association Prevention recommend prison-specific comprehensive best practices. Australia, UK successfully implemented strategies, resulted substantial reductions suicides.5Daigle MS Daniel AE Dear GE al.International Task Force Preventing prisons, part II. comparisons services correctional facilities.Crisis. 2007; 28: 122-130Crossref (40) similar prison-specific, programme should therefore be developed urgently declare competing interests. factorsMany countries northern western Europe more prisoners year. Individual-level information about prisoner health required understand variations changes time. Full-Text Open Access