Corizon Connections Blog
Suicide Prevention Initiative aims to eliminate suicides in Corizon Health facilities
By Mariann Burnetti-Atwell, Psy. D., CCHP, Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health Operations, Corizon Health
Several months ago, Corizon Health embarked on “Not on my watch,” an initiative to eliminate suicides in the jails and prisons where we provide care. Corizon already had a strong record in suicide prevention, but we set this lofty – some would say impossible – goal because there simply is no number that we find acceptable for completed suicides in a secure and supervised environment.
Yet, as a nation, the federal Department of Justice reports death by suicide in county jails is on the rise. The most recent federal Bureau of Justice Statistic reports showed the number of suicides in state prisons increased from 2013 to 2014 by 30 percent, an increase to 249 suicides from 192 the previous year. In local jails, suicide was the leading cause of death, accounting for a stunning 35 percent of all jail inmate deaths, a 13 percent increase from 2013 to 2014.
Suicide prevention is an ongoing initiative but already our concentrated focus on this issue has resulted in a new policy that we are actively implementing throughout our facilities. Our policy, which complies with NCCHC and ACA standards, contains more robust guidance to all of our facility staff regarding the need for all clinicians to be continuously clinically diligent in assessing risk in patients. In other words, assessing risk is not a one-time occurrence or the job of only one person. All clinicians must continually be assessing the patients they encounter for signs of increased risk.
We also are working to ensure that no clinician has to alone bear responsibility for making the decision to remove a patient from suicide watch. Our new policy is that there must be agreement among more than one healthcare professional that a patient who has seriously attempted self-harm may return to general population. Quite simply, we believe there is value in discussion and that it is important to establish appropriate follow-up care that is individualized for each patient. This is better accomplished through collaboration and communication.
Finally, it is essential that there be a strong partnership between healthcare staff and correctional officers based on mutual understanding and respect for their respective jobs. Correctional officers are the eyes and ears inside the facility and may be the first to recognize signs that an inmate is in crisis. Trust and open lines of communications between treatment and detention are essential in reducing suicide.
To learn more about suicide prevention or schedule a suicide awareness training for your officers and staff, please contact your site’s Behavioral Health Lead or Health Services Administrator.
Suicide Prevention Initiative aims to eliminate suicides in Corizon Health facilities
By Mariann Burnetti-Atwell, Psy. D., CCHP, Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health Operations, Corizon Health
Several months ago, Corizon Health embarked on “Not on my watch,” an initiative to eliminate suicides in the jails and prisons where we provide care. Corizon already had a strong record in suicide prevention, but we set this lofty – some would say impossible – goal because there simply is no number that we find acceptable for completed suicides in a secure and supervised environment.
Yet, as a nation, the federal Department of Justice reports death by suicide in county jails is on the rise. The most recent federal Bureau of Justice Statistic reports showed the number of suicides in state prisons increased from 2013 to 2014 by 30 percent, an increase to 249 suicides from 192 the previous year. In local jails, suicide was the leading cause of death, accounting for a stunning 35 percent of all jail inmate deaths, a 13 percent increase from 2013 to 2014.
Suicide prevention is an ongoing initiative but already our concentrated focus on this issue has resulted in a new policy that we are actively implementing throughout our facilities. Our policy, which complies with NCCHC and ACA standards, contains more robust guidance to all of our facility staff regarding the need for all clinicians to be continuously clinically diligent in assessing risk in patients. In other words, assessing risk is not a one-time occurrence or the job of only one person. All clinicians must continually be assessing the patients they encounter for signs of increased risk.
We also are working to ensure that no clinician has to alone bear responsibility for making the decision to remove a patient from suicide watch. Our new policy is that there must be agreement among more than one healthcare professional that a patient who has seriously attempted self-harm may return to general population. Quite simply, we believe there is value in discussion and that it is important to establish appropriate follow-up care that is individualized for each patient. This is better accomplished through collaboration and communication.
Finally, it is essential that there be a strong partnership between healthcare staff and correctional officers based on mutual understanding and respect for their respective jobs. Correctional officers are the eyes and ears inside the facility and may be the first to recognize signs that an inmate is in crisis. Trust and open lines of communications between treatment and detention are essential in reducing suicide.
To learn more about suicide prevention or schedule a suicide awareness training for your officers and staff, please contact your site’s Behavioral Health Lead or Health Services Administrator.