Search the hub

In May 2018, INQUEST published Still dying on the inside: examining deaths in women’s prisons providing unique insight into deaths in women’s prisons. The report was based on an examination of official data, INQUEST’s research, casework and an analysis of coroners’ reports and jury findings. This 2019 briefing provides an update to that report, reflecting on the cases and figures for 2018/2019.

This joint report by the Prison Reform Trust (PRT), INQUEST and Pact (the Prison Advice and Care Trust) reveals that most prisons in England and Wales are failing in their duty to ensure that emergency phone lines are in place for families to share urgent concerns about self-harm and suicide risks of relatives in prison. This is in serious breach of government policy that families should be able to share concerns ‘without delay’.

This video supports the launch of our thematic review that presents a detailed analysis of claims made after an individual has attempted to take their life. Claims relating to completed suicide and attempted suicide are reviewed, regardless of whether the claim resulted in financial compensation. It identifies common problems with care and provides recommendations for improvement to support service delivery.

With increasing awareness of the importance of good mental health worldwide, attention has focused on the need to overcome the negative perceptions and stigma historically attached to mental health issues. One group that this difficulty has been particularly visible for is men; it is well-established that significantly fewer men are diagnosed with or treated for mental health disorders compared to women, with suicide rates being three times higher in some countries in men than women. Why this crisis in men’s mental health exists is a question with complex answers. It requires a better understanding of how men interact with those around them, why they do (or don’t) access support, as well as other social and cultural factors that influence their health seeking behaviours. Much research has focused on the concept of “masculinity” and the need to question its impact on capacity for emotional communication, service engagement and help-seeking behaviour. Watch the recording of the World Health Organization (WHO) seminar, which took place in Copenhagen, on this complex topic.

Surveys show that men with ‘macho’ attitudes are more likely to have mental health problems. Jim Pollard argues that reducing the alarming male suicide rates requires a new language as well as new services.

This toolkit from the Advancing Quality Alliance (AQuA)is for anyone involved in designing, delivering, providing or commissioning suicide prevention services/support. The aims of this toolkit are to share information on mental health services/support, considering what ‘good’ looks like, and to provide an approach to implementing high quality/effective mental health services/support.