Yesterday, two correction officers saved the life of an inmate living in the prison’s Intermediate Care Program...
While making their rounds together and going from cell to cell, to check on the men, they came upon a prisoner who was in the process of slashing his throat. This happened on a Sunday afternoon when I was not at work. I have weekends off. But when I came to work this Monday morning, I was appraised as to what had happened.
I was disappointed that a man I know, and often talked to, made an attempt to end his life. He had done this before, and it seems that each time he tries, he gets closer to succeeding.
From what the prison guards who saved his life told me, this time he came very close. He was rushed to the infirmary to get his wounds stitched and bandaged. Then, from the infirmary, he will go into the prison's Mental Health Unit for observation. He may remain in the "observation status" for many months. He may even get transferred to another facility. If so, I will probably never see him again.
Every correctional facility has a dark cloud that hovers over it. Some prisoners are more peaceful than others, most of the time; but not always. Other facilities, however, are filled with daily unrest, violence, and rampaging gangs.
That incarcerated men become depressed and suicidal should be no surprise. Many factors weigh upon the mind of a man who's caged in a cell. An inmate grieves for a family far away, or a failed marriage and a failed life. He mourns the loss of contact with his children, and even for a lost court case, plus many other things.
Imprisonment, by its very nature, exacerbates whatever problems and difficulties a man may be facing. People from all walks of life face various problems, of course. But being in a cell far from home and many times unable to get in touch with loved ones via a phone call or waiting for a letter that never comes is tremendously stressful.
And because prison inmates are generally not open with each other due to a perpetual lack of trust, and because there is always a barrier that exists between prisoners and the staff, much of the time a man keeps all his problems bottled up inside himself. And this is not good.
In addition, depression is seen by both the inmates and prison staff as a weakness. No man wants to be viewed by his peers or by the guards as being weak. To a man in such a painful situation, death may seem like an escape. It is not. Rather, it is the ultimate loss of life and hope.
I do, however, believe that most suicides are preventable. The warning signs are there for those who are concerned enough to watch for them, and who are trained to recognize them.
Likewise, I can never, with all I know about dealing with my fellow prisoners, expect a depressed man to take the initiative to tell me that he is feeling suicidal. I believe that I always have to be alert and vigilant to watch for the telltale behavioral changes and signs that depressed men exhibit. I have to take the risk to intervene and reach out in compassion. I want to be a caring friend and a listening ear.
D.B.
I was disappointed that a man I know, and often talked to, made an attempt to end his life. He had done this before, and it seems that each time he tries, he gets closer to succeeding.
From what the prison guards who saved his life told me, this time he came very close. He was rushed to the infirmary to get his wounds stitched and bandaged. Then, from the infirmary, he will go into the prison's Mental Health Unit for observation. He may remain in the "observation status" for many months. He may even get transferred to another facility. If so, I will probably never see him again.
Every correctional facility has a dark cloud that hovers over it. Some prisoners are more peaceful than others, most of the time; but not always. Other facilities, however, are filled with daily unrest, violence, and rampaging gangs.
That incarcerated men become depressed and suicidal should be no surprise. Many factors weigh upon the mind of a man who's caged in a cell. An inmate grieves for a family far away, or a failed marriage and a failed life. He mourns the loss of contact with his children, and even for a lost court case, plus many other things.
Imprisonment, by its very nature, exacerbates whatever problems and difficulties a man may be facing. People from all walks of life face various problems, of course. But being in a cell far from home and many times unable to get in touch with loved ones via a phone call or waiting for a letter that never comes is tremendously stressful.
And because prison inmates are generally not open with each other due to a perpetual lack of trust, and because there is always a barrier that exists between prisoners and the staff, much of the time a man keeps all his problems bottled up inside himself. And this is not good.
In addition, depression is seen by both the inmates and prison staff as a weakness. No man wants to be viewed by his peers or by the guards as being weak. To a man in such a painful situation, death may seem like an escape. It is not. Rather, it is the ultimate loss of life and hope.
I do, however, believe that most suicides are preventable. The warning signs are there for those who are concerned enough to watch for them, and who are trained to recognize them.
Likewise, I can never, with all I know about dealing with my fellow prisoners, expect a depressed man to take the initiative to tell me that he is feeling suicidal. I believe that I always have to be alert and vigilant to watch for the telltale behavioral changes and signs that depressed men exhibit. I have to take the risk to intervene and reach out in compassion. I want to be a caring friend and a listening ear.
D.B.
