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Fall in prison suicides 'highlights success' of Samaritans' scheme

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Self-inflicted death rate drops

The number of self-inflicted deaths in prisons across England and Wales has fallen to its lowest rate since 1996, thanks in part to the Samaritans in-prison Listener support scheme, the BBC has reported.

According to newly-released figures from the Ministry of Justice, the number of self-inflicted deaths fell by over a third last year, from 92 in 2007 to 61 in 2008.

However, as the number of self-inflicted deaths in prison varies widely from year to year, the Ministry of Justice uses a system which gives a three-year average based on the number of deaths per 100,000 prisoners. This calculation demonstrates a significant downward trend since 2000, according to the BBC, with figures steadily decreasing from 130 per 100,000 at the start of the new millennium, to 101 per 100,000 in 2007, and just 91 per 100,000 last year.

Justice minister Shahid Malik is quoted by the BBC as saying: "Each and every death is a personal tragedy for all those who are left behind […] Any reduction in the number of self inflicted deaths in our prisons is very welcome news."

He added: "It is important to recognise the good work of all those who continue to care for the most vulnerable prisoners in our custody."

Support services for prisoners

Prisoners are seven times more likely to kill themselves than other UK residents, according to the Samaritans website.

In an article for the Guardian in 2006, former inmate Erwin James stated: "Caring for vulnerable people is hardly the function of a prison, which is ironic when you think that most of the people who go to prison are from vulnerable groups.

"More that 70 per cent of adult male prisoners have at least one identifiable mental health problem and in 2005, 597 out of every 1,000 women prisoners self-harmed an average of five times.

"The figures for those under 21 who die by their own hand in prison are unduly high. Among this group, between January 1990 and December 2003, there were 177 self-inflicted deaths, and 25 of the young people involved were aged 15 to 17."

The Samaritans website states that peer-to-peer support services, such as its own Listener scheme, can be useful to prisoners feeling despair or distress as a result of being incarcerated. It adds that the service can be particularly useful to those experiencing life behind bars for the first time, helping them adjust to their loss of freedom and cope with the limited contact they may now have with their family and friends.

The Listener Scheme

The Samaritans Listener scheme was the brainchild of Kathy Biggar, former vice-chair of the Samaritans and current Suicide Prevention Officer at the Department of High Security Prisons. It was first established at HMP Swansea in 1991 and has since grown to include nearly every prison in England, Wales and Scotland.

In 2006 Ms Biggar was presented with the Perrie Award for Work of Note in recognition of the success of the scheme at the annual prison staff Perrie Lectures in Rugby. Writing of the award in the Guardian newspaper at the time, Erwin James stated: "The Listener scheme […] is one of the most innovative inventions ever introduced to the UK prison system.

"I know that if it was not for the Listeners and the Samaritans many more people over the past 14 years would have taken their own lives in prison."

Training as a Listener

Since its conception, the Listener scheme has trained over 1,200 prison inmates as a peer support network for those experiencing distress, despair and even suicidal thoughts during their time inside. Volunteers listen to the worries of their fellow inmates in a completely confidential environment. Prisons operating the scheme aim to provide one trained Listener per 50 inmates, with a rota ensuring that support is available 24 hours a day.

Prisoners wishing to become Listeners are obliged to attend an intensive training programme provided by the Samaritans, specially developed to attend to the needs of prison inmates. Successful candidates receive a certificate upon completion of the course and are bound by the same confidentiality Compact that applies to all Samaritans volunteers.

On the HM Prison Service website, the organisation states: "Effective peer support can contribute to safer prison strategies by helping to create a safe, decent and healthy environment with positive prisoner-prisoner and staff-prisoner relationships, where problems can be voiced and addressed, and anxiety alleviated."

Political developments

In 2004 it became standard practice for all deaths taking place in prison custody to be fully investigated by Prisons and Probation Ombudsman Stephen Shaw, while in October 2007 new guidelines designed to reduce incidences of self-harm and suicide were published by the Ministry of Justice and officially implemented in April 2008.

Mr Shaw told the BBC: "I know that the Prison Service takes the safety of prisoners very seriously and I too am pleased that the number who died in 2008 is lower than last year."

Statistics released in December 2008 by the Prison Service acknowledged an inmate population of 82,918, of which approximately 1,500 had been assessed as being at risk of self-harm or suicide. Those deemed to be at risk are now offered emotional support by the prison's in-house Listener scheme or alternative 'buddy' system, as well as from trained prison staff.

In the Cardiff and District Samaritans 2005 Annual Report and Review, the organisation stated: "As a result of the unique partnership between the Listeners, Prison Staff, Samaritans and the Suicide Prevention Team, the number of self-inflicted deaths in HMP Cardiff has been substantially reduced since the initiative began."

Vote of confidence

However, perhaps the biggest vote of confidence in the Samaritans' support scheme has come from inmates at Armley Prison, Leeds. In November 2008 the Armley Today reported that a group of eight Listeners trained by the Samaritans held a sponsored gym marathon for their local branch to thank them for their involvement with the prison. They raised in excess of £800, which was donated to the organisation's £7,000 fundraising drive for new roof for their Leeds headquarters in Clarendon Road.

Anyone experiencing distress, despair or suicidal thoughts as a result of being imprisoned or having a loved one incarcerated can call the Samaritans for emotional support on 08457 909090 or 1850 609090 (ROI).