Institutional responses to self-injurious behavior among inmates.
To date, little research has systematically investigated perceptions of mental health professionals regarding motivations for self-injury among prison inmates. To help fill this gap, the authors used descriptive techniques to examine self-injurious behavior among inmates from the perspective of correctional mental health professionals. A quantitative survey assessed perceptions of mental health staff regarding etiology, motivations, and manifestations of self-injury. A qualitative interview component was used to explicate responses from the survey. Inmate cutting, scratching, opening old wounds, and inserting objects were the most commonly witnessed behaviors. Findings suggest that self-injury occurred regularly and that a subset of inmates are responsible for recurrent events. Mental health professionals perceived the motivation for inmate self-injury to be both manipulative and a coping mechanism. They described current management strategies and corresponding needs for training and resources.
DeHart
Dana D
DD
Center for Child and Family Studies, College of Social Work, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
Smith
Hayden P
HP
Kaminski
Robert J
RJ
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009042:Motivation; D010465:Perception; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D011330:Prisons / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications