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Abstract: 

One of the highest priorities for healthcare staff in juvenile detention and confinement settings is suicide prevention. In applying the basic requirements of good practice as outlined by the American Correctional Association (ACA, 1991a, 1991b) and the National Commission on Correctional Healthcare (NCCHC, 1999) standards, we have found it necessary to develop approaches that address realities encountered in our facilities that can limit the effectiveness of a suicide prevention program.These issues include differences in the training and orientation of correctionaland mental health staff; the need for thoroughness and redundancy in assessment; the need for clear lines of communication and multiple avenues of communication; and the need for repeated assessments. This article will describe the approaches we have developed in attempting to make suicide prevention effective in the real world of our juvenile correctional facilities.

Keywords: method, history, abuse, gender, mental illness, risk assessment, isolation

Affiliations:  1: Mountain View Youth Development Center; 2: Long Creek Youth Development Center.