Prison suicide attempts

Press, 21 July 1982, Page 20

Prison suicide attempts

Sir,—Our members are deeply concerned about reports of further suicide attempts within the five prisons in Christchurch. Imprisonment is a demoralising experience; That is its function on behalf, of a community unwilling to handle its own social problems. But stress to the point of attempted suicide is a matter' of' community concern. As a public group, we request the superintendent or the Minister to tell our community how many suicides and attempts have occurred in Christchurch prisons over the last three years, either by hanging, drug overdose or self-mutilation. We question whether the community really does want a prison system which in the name of justice drives its inmates to the edge of despair—some forever.—Yours, etc., MARK NIXON, Co-ordinator, Christchurch branch Movement for Alternatives to Prison. July 9, 1982.

[The Minister of Justice, Mr McLay, replies; “There have been no suicides in any of the prisons during the last three years, but 23 inmates attempted suicide or made suicidal gestures. Five attempted suicide by hanging, thirteen by cutting blood vessels, and two by swallowing razor blades. One inmate swallowed a poisonous substance and another two set fire to articles in their cells. A further four inmates were found unconscious and revived after taking overdoses of pills. It is not known whether ' those incidents were attempted suicides or the unforeseen result of drug abuse. A high proportion of inmates who attempted suicide had previous histories of admission to psychiatric hospitals, and several absconded from hospitals while committed patients. In this context the problems associated with the management of disturbed prisoners will: be clean This has been a matter of concern to me, and was referred to on page 25 of my department's 1981, Annual Report to Parliament. The committee investigating the problem at the time of that report has now completed its inquiries and its recommendations are now being studied by the Departments of Health and Justice.”]