When I arrived at work this morning at the prison's Intermediate Care Program (a fancy title for a Mental Health cellblock), I learned that two young men tried to commit suicide over the weekend...
Both of them, in unrelated incidents, decided to cut and slash themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
My job is both a ministry and a challenge. I cannot be in the Mental Health cellblock all the time, only every Monday through Friday, in the mornings and afternoons. But as a Christian and a caring person, I try my best to help each man as best as I can, be it a listening ear, or maybe only to write a letter home for a prisoner who cannot do this for himself.
Fortunately, the first cutting incident was more like a cry for help by a man in his early 20s who's doing several multiple life sentences, and who will never be released from prison because of the arrangement of his sentences which exceed the human life span.
The second inmate, however, is in his 30s. He made a far more serious attempt at suicide by slashing his wrists and cutting himself on other parts of his body as well. The corrections officers who were on duty at the time had to wrestle the razor out of his hands.
This inmate had to be rushed to the hospital. He came close to dying. Now he will probably spend considerable time at the Central New York Psychiatric Center in the rural town of Marcy, New York. This is the place where those prisoners who are exhibiting several mental problems get committed to until their condition stabilizes. At such time, an inmate will usually be returned to the facility he came from.
Because of the seriousness of this second man's attempt, he will probably be at the Psychiatric Center for up to several months, or longer if needed.
D.B.
My job is both a ministry and a challenge. I cannot be in the Mental Health cellblock all the time, only every Monday through Friday, in the mornings and afternoons. But as a Christian and a caring person, I try my best to help each man as best as I can, be it a listening ear, or maybe only to write a letter home for a prisoner who cannot do this for himself.
Fortunately, the first cutting incident was more like a cry for help by a man in his early 20s who's doing several multiple life sentences, and who will never be released from prison because of the arrangement of his sentences which exceed the human life span.
The second inmate, however, is in his 30s. He made a far more serious attempt at suicide by slashing his wrists and cutting himself on other parts of his body as well. The corrections officers who were on duty at the time had to wrestle the razor out of his hands.
This inmate had to be rushed to the hospital. He came close to dying. Now he will probably spend considerable time at the Central New York Psychiatric Center in the rural town of Marcy, New York. This is the place where those prisoners who are exhibiting several mental problems get committed to until their condition stabilizes. At such time, an inmate will usually be returned to the facility he came from.
Because of the seriousness of this second man's attempt, he will probably be at the Psychiatric Center for up to several months, or longer if needed.
D.B.
