Suicide in Mexican Prisons: Mental Health Symptomology and Risk Factors for Suicidal Ideation and Suicidal Behavior

• Date: 01 December 2021
• Published date: 01 December 2021
• DOI: 10.1177/00328855211060319
• Subject Matter: Articles

Suicide in Mexican

Prisons: Mental Health

Symptomology and Risk

Factors for Suicidal

Ideation and Suicidal

Behavior

Berenice Pérez-Ramírez

1

,

Juan J. Barthelemy

2

,

Robin E. Gearing

2

,

Lindamarie Olson

2

,

Natalia Giraldo-Santiago

2

,

and Luis R. Torres

3

Abstract

In Mexico, suicide and suicidal behaviors (SB) have increased 275% since

1990. Prisoners constitute a growing population in Mexico and have been

identif‌ied as high suicide risk. Using a sample of 194 male prisoners, we mea-

sure what demographics and mental health symptomology are associated

with suicidal ideation (SI) and SB, and identify what demographics and mental

health symptomology predict SI and SB. Global Severity and Adverse

Childhood Experiences (ACEs) were signif‌icant predictors of experiencing

SI, whereas global severity, ACEs, and age were signif‌icant predictors of

experiencing SB. Findings support increased identif‌ication and comprehen-

sive mental health services addressing suicidality in prisons.

1

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico

2

University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA

3

The University of Texas, Edinburg, TX, USA

Corresponding Author:

Robin E. Gearing, University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, MH-RITES Research

Center, 3511 Cullen Blvd, 110HA, Houston, TX 77204, USA.

Email: rgearing@uh.edu.

Article

The Prison Journal

2021, Vol. 101(6) 675–698

© 2021 SAGE Publications

Article reuse guidelines:

sagepub.com/journals-permissions

DOI: 10.1177/00328855211060319

journals.sagepub.com/home/tpj

Keywords

suicide, prisoners, mental health, Mexico

Introduction

Suicide and suicide-related behaviors are a signif‌icant and growing global

public health concern (Brenes, 2019). An estimated 800,000 people a year

die by suicide, with 79% occurring in low- and middle-income countries

(WHO, 2019). Criminal justice system involvement is a risk factor for

suicide (Webb et al., 2011), with suicide rates being 3–9 times more prevalent

in prison populations than in the general population (Fazel et al., 2017).

Among male prisoners in many high-income countries, suicide rates are 5–

8 times higher than in the general community (Fazel et al., 2011), and

30%–50% of all deaths in custody are attributed to suicide (Alonzo &

Gearing, 2018; Rivlin et al., 2013). Adult suicides within custodial settings

remain a leading cause of death worldwide (Fazel & Baillargeon, 2011;

Konrad et al., 2007; Rabe, 2012), and the leading cause of death for juveniles

in prison (Casiano et al., 2016; Roberts & Bender, 2006). Thus, the public

health goal of reducing the number of prison suicides has been highlighted

as an international priority (WHO, 2007).

In Mexico, suicide and suicidal behaviors (SBs) have increased by 275%

over the past 30 years (Borges et al., 2010). In Mexico City, rates of suicide

increased by 14.30% between 2000 and 2014 (Romero-Pimentel et al., 2018).

Prisoners constitute a rapidly growing population in Mexico and have been

identif‌ied as being at high risk of suicide. However, limited research has

been conducted on the identif‌ication and treatment of SI and SB among

this prison population.

Suicidal Ideation (SI) Versus SB

SI refers to thoughts of wanting to end one’s life by suicide and may or may

not be associated with methods, intent, or a plan. In contrast, SB refers to the

act of doing something that could end one’s life, such as collecting pills,

obtaining a gun, or cutting yourself. SI is a signif‌icant risk factor for subse-

quent SB (Castellví, et al., 2017; Franklin, et al., 2017; Hubers, et al.,

2016;Nock et al., 2008; Ribeiro et al., 2016; Rossom et al., 2017).

Identif‌ication and knowledge of SI provide early prevention opportunities

(Gooding et al., 2013; Sveticic & De Leo, 2012), as only a small number

of those contemplating suicide actually engage in SB (Nock et al., 2008;

ten Have et al., 2009).

676 The Prison Journal 101(6)