Custodial settings are recognized as an important context both with re
spect to suicide and self-harm and for HIV prevention and care. This a
rticle examines briefly what is known about suicide and self ham in re
lation to custody, emphasizing the increased risk of suicide and self-
harm with suicidal intent among certain subgroups within the custodial
population. Subsequently the discussion focuses on the current lack o
f information as regards HIV prevalence in custodial settings and on H
IV related policy and practice in custody. The writer attempts to draw
out the implications for HIV related suicide in custody, arguing for
a rethinking of traditional approaches to suicide in the light of the
new stresses arising from the advent of HIV and AIDS in custody.