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Suicide is a leading cause of death in prisons across the world and so to mark World Suicide Prevention Day 2019 on 10th September, suicide in prison is the monthly theme for WEPHREN each September. Last year we highlighted suicide in Nepalese prisons and in South African prisons, and the recently published guidelines on Preventing suicide in community and custodial settings from the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
This year Dr Stephane Shepherd of the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Victoria, speaks about his work exploring suicidal behaviours for indigenous males in custody in Australia. His research explores cross-cultural issues at the intersection of psychology and the criminal justice system. He has developed an international body of research and writing on risk and protective factors for violence and cultural differences in offending behaviours and mental ill health and the implications for assessment.
Shepherd, S.M., Spivak, B., Paradies, Y., & Arabena, K. (2018). Identifying the prevalence and predictors of suicidal behaviors for Indigenous males in custody. BMC Public Health, 18: 1159. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-018-6074-5
Heffernan E, Andersen K, Davidson F, Kinner SA. PTSD among aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people in custody in Australia: prevalence and correlates. J Trauma Stress. 2015;28:523–30.