Prevention of self-harm and suicide among persons serving sentences in minimum security correctional institutions of the penal enforcement system of the Republic of Kazakhstan

BACKGROUND: The article considers the possibilities of preventing self-harm and suicide among inmates in minimum security institutions of the penal and correctional system of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Statistics of the annual cases of self-harm and suicidal acts confirm the need to prevent them using psychological, technical, and legislative tools.

AIM: To determine the possibilities of preventing self-harm and suicidal acts among persons serving sentences in minimum security correctional institutions of the penal and correctional system of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: An intellect map was used to visualize concepts. The following were used as tools for psychological diagnostics: questionnaires to establish the presence or absence of mental disorders and identify signs of potential suicide risk; sketch of a potential client’s persona to see the behavior, emotional state, daily activities, demographic characteristics, and needs and goals of the client; and thematic plan schedule of individual counseling meetings.

RESULTS: Autoaggression was most often singled out as the most relevant destructive form of behavior in correctional institutions of the penal system. To understand the phenomenon of autodestructive behavior, an intellectual map of this concept was presented, showing its specificity, spheres of its research and study, and types and highlighting the directions for the prevention of such behavior.

CONCLUSION: The implementation of the formulated proposals, as well as the control and coordination of activities to prevent self-harm and suicide among inmates by the management, was found to reduce these incidents. This will positively help eliminate one of the threats to the personal safety of convicts.