Prisoners on prisons: Experiences of peer-delivered suicide prevention work

Buck, Gillian; Tomczak, Philippa; Harriott, Paula; Page, Rebecca; Bradley, Kate; Nash, Mark; Wainwright, Lucy

Abstract

Prison suicide is a global concern, with rates consistently exceeding those in non-incarcerated populations. Prisoners deliver (suicide prevention) initiatives in jurisdictions around the world. As part of a research project seeking to foreground prisoner voices in criminological knowledge, former prisoners and academics coproduced an innovative, retrospective examination of peer-delivered prison suicide prevention in England. Our collaborative, autoethnographic research design involved focus group discussions and co-authored outputs. We offer fresh perspectives on peer-delivered suicide prevention, revealing overlooked limitations including traumatisation through ‘volunteering’. Findings include: the riskiness of prison peer support; inconsistencies in training and conditions; the importance of (supported) peer provision; and proposals for safer service development.

Citation

Buck, G., Tomczak, P., Harriott, P., Page, R., Bradley, K., Nash, M., & Wainwright, L. (2023). Prisoners on prisons: Experiences of peer-delivered suicide prevention work. Incarceration, 4, https://doi.org/10.1177/26326663231172023

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 28, 2023
• Online Publication Date: May 25, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023
• Deposit Date: Jul 13, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 13, 2023
• Journal: Incarceration
• Print ISSN: 2632-6663
• Electronic ISSN: 2632-6663
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 4
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/26326663231172023
• Keywords: suicide, peer support, prison, mental health, wellbeing
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/21630663
• Publisher URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/26326663231172023