Bullying and Suicidal Behavior in Jails

Abstract

Relationships between bullying features and suicidal behavior of inmates were examined. The files of 95 suicide victims in jails and prisons in the Netherlands were examined for reports of bullying. In addition, 221 nonsuicidal jail inmates and 53 suicidal jail inmates were interviewed. The files of 34% of the suicide victims noted that the suicide victim had felt bullied. Bullying, especially serious bullying, was relatively often reported by suicidal inmates and by vulnerable inmates. Different types of bullies were associated with different forms of bullying and different degrees of suicide risk. Results suggest that bullying and suicide risk are related and that a distinction should be made between mild and serious features of bullying.