Suicide in Prisons - record suicides in prison prompts national conference to advise

Conference will review all issues for the prison service resulting from inmate suicides*Impact on staff*Self harming behaviour*The role of pschologists, lawyers and secure care*Plus the impact of in-reach services.

(PRWEB) February 19, 2004 --101 inmates have taken their own lives whilst detained in prisons in England and Wales since January 2003. There has also been a large increase in the number of detainees on remand and serving custodial sentences. While some incidents, such as the suicide of Harold Shipman, achieve blanket coverage in the media, the majority do not. All prisons have a duty of care for their detainees; however, it appears that the ability of the system to exercise this is under strain.

The Government has set out to reduce the death rate from suicide by at least 20% by 2010 and the situation in prisons is therefore part of a national strategy.

Against the background of record figures for suicides and incidents of self-harm, this national conference will look at practical approaches that may lead to a reduction in these numbers. The programme draws on the experiences of leading members of the prison health community and inspectorate to review ways in which prison officers and health care staff can work together.

Conference will address: Suicide -- Issues for the prison service*Safe prisons -- Research into suicides* Prisons and their moral performance: Quality of life and suicides* Practical issues around suicide and self harm* Role of psychologists in prevention* The future shape of death in custody investigations*Practical case studies: The lawyers role in the aftermath of suicide*Prison mental health in-reach: Delivery implications in mental health/ suicide

Speakers for this event include:
Stephen Shaw Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Graham Towel Head of Psychology National Prison and Probation Services
Ann Owers Chief Inspector of Prisons
Jim Heavens Governor, HMP Wandsworth
Sean Duggan Prison Mental Health Lead, National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE)

Who should attend?
Prison governors
Heads of health care in prisons
Heads of psychology in prisons
Health care co-ordinators in area offices
Prison health service staff
Psychologists working in prison settings
Nurses working in prison settings for mental health NHS trusts
Staff from secure care settings
Voluntary organisation staff providing support services to prisoners
Assistant chief officers from the probation training consortium
Suicide reduction leads from primary care trusts

Notes to Editors

1.The conference takes place 9.30am - 4.00pm, Wednesday 17 March 2004 Ort House Conference Centre, Camden, London

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For more information on Pavilion go tohttp://www.pavpub.com/ or call: 0870 161 3505
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