A thematic analysis of how prisoners overcome suicidality
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the perceptions, beliefs and abilities that support adult male prisoners in overcoming suicidality.
Design/methodology/approach
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight male life sentenced prisoners in a Category B prison. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data and interpret how prisoners have overcome suicidality.
Findings
Five overarching themes were identified; sense of self, presence of meaning, connectedness, shift of perspective and re-establishing control. The themes were closely interconnected and revealed novel insights into the variables that supported prisoners to overcome suicidality.
Research limitations/implications
The themes were drawn from a specific prisoner population, which may not be representative of the wider prison population. Additionally, the sole focus on suicidality may be an oversimplification of self-destructive behaviours and could have affected the factors identified.
Practical implications
The results highlight the need to refine suicide prevention strategies in prisons; in the assessment of suicide risk, the improvement of supportive regimes and the development of psychological interventions.
Originality/value
This research is the first to qualitatively examine the factors involved in overcoming suicide in adult male prisoners. The research is of value to researchers and practitioners alike, as it extends previous research in prison populations and suggests avenues for the development of suicide prevention strategies.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Erica Bowen and Gail Steptoe-Warren of Coventry University for their academic support and advice. The authors are also grateful to HM Prison Service for their operational support. Finally and most importantly, the authors would like to thank the men who participated in this research. No funding was sought for the research. Ethical approval was granted by Coventry University and HM Prison Service East Midlands Ethics Committee.
Citation
Reading, L. and Bowen, E. (2014), "A thematic analysis of how prisoners overcome suicidality", International Journal of Prisoner Health, Vol. 10 No. 4, pp. 212-227. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-05-2014-0014
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited