Media Relations Office:
Lindsay M. Hayes presents Suicide Prevention Strategies Training
August 5, 2005 - It's not easy motivating staff on a Friday afternoon, especially in Phoenix in August, but that's not a problem when you have the right speaker. Lindsay M. Hayes presented a two-hour training session this afternoon to a near-full auditorium located at the Arizona Department of Transportation building. The main topics were how to detect suicidal symptoms in inmates, and what to do when these symptoms are displayed. "We have about 95 medical, mental health and security staff members, as well as several chaplains in attendance for today's seminar," said Kim O'Connor, Administrator of Counseling and Treatment (CTS) Services. "We're not surprised at the turnout; Mr. Hayes is renowned on the topic of prison suicide prevention." Suicide is the third leading cause of death in prisons, following natural causes and AIDS. The majority of prison suicide victims have documented histories of mental illness and suicidal behavior. "It's not a mental health staff issue; it's not a medical staff issue; it's not a security issue. It's everyone's issue," Mr. Hayes stated early in today's seminar.
Sumi Erno, Staff Executive Assistant for CTS Services agrees. "Every staff member is responsible to help with this problem. Anyone noticing suicidal symptoms in an offender needs to assure the offender gets help." Lindsay Hayes is a nationally recognized expert in the field of jail, prison and juvenile suicide, having directed the only three studies conducted in this area. He currently serves as an editor for the quarterly newsletter Jail Suicide/Mental Health Update and has authored over 50 articles related to prison suicide prevention. "We are looking to reduce the opportunity, and prevent the preventable ones, " Mr. Hayes stated. "We're looking to reduce the suicide rate within prisons to zero." |
