DOES ISOLATION CAUSE JAIL SUICIDES

In their efforts to prevent suicides, psychiatrists who consult to jai ls face a terrible dilemma, Placing a suicidal inmate in a single cell to restrict access to harmful materials and instruments is a common p ractice, Yet, mental health authorities argue that isolating a suicida l inmate only fuels the flames of his self-destructive impulses, It be hooves mental health professionals to advocate relentlessly for better staffing patterns in jails and more humane approaches to suicidal inm ates, Meanwhile, in some jail settings, the combination of single cell placement, complete disarmament, and close observation may be the mos t effective available option.