Educating and Training the Next Generations of Security Staff in Suicide Risk Assessment in Correctional Settings: Development of Cultural Competencies
Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: Cultural competence in suicide risk assessment has become a necessity given the demographic diversity in the U.S. corrections population and the increasing rate of suicidal behavior in jails and prisons. With few exceptions, little attention has been paid to the cultural training of both clinicians and security staff, and the development of cultural competencies in this field. This paper will focus exclusively on examining the case for cultural competence when conducting a suicide risk assessment in a correctional setting. The author reviews factors that are key in the education and training of culturally informed jail-based therapists and corrections officers, including best practices for educating correctional officers, who are the first line responders to suicide attempts in corrections settings. These factors include understanding the interpersonal theory of suicide, the cultural model of suicide, and the trauma informed care approach in corrections. The author offers future practice recommendations that are based on well-established cultural competencies in the field of suicidology.
Author: Ashley Christianson
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2995269480