Mortality By Suicide Compared to Other Manners of Violent Deaths Among Recently Released Persons

Background/Purpose: Recently released persons are at a higher risk of suicide than the general population. Recently released men are 8 times and women are 36 times more likely to die by suicide within 1 year after release with risks increasing within the first 28 days of release. This study explores demographic factor characteristics and behavioral health variables associated with odds of mortality by suicide amongst persons recently released from a correctional facility.

Methods:

Data is from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), which includes all violent deaths from 32 states in the U.S., collected each year from 2003 to 2015. The sample includes all violent deaths among individuals recently released from a correctional facility. NVDRS data includes reports from death certificates, corner examiner reports, law enforcement agencies, and toxicology reports. A binary dependent variable of completed suicides compared to other manners of violent death (homicide, unintentional firearm, and legal intervention) was created. Additional measures in the NVDRS include race/ethnicity, age, gender, education level, marital status, manner of mortality, binary measures of mental health problems, substance use-related problems, currently in treatment for mental health, and a history of mental health treatment.

A multivariate logistic regression model examined associations between demographics, manner of death and behavioral health variables, and the odds of mortality either by suicide compared to other manners of violent death.

Results:

There were 23.45% (N=231) suicides and 76.55% (N=754) other manners of violent deaths.

The multivariate analysis showed that individuals who identified as members of a minority group; Black/African Americans (OR= 0.08), Hispanic (OR= 0.23), and other race (OR= 0.23) showed significantly lower odds of mortality by suicide than different manners of violent deaths compared to White non-Hispanic individuals. Individuals who identified as married (OR= 1.88) compared to those who never married had higher odds of mortality by suicide. Additionally, individuals with some college credits (OR= 1.92), and a college degree or higher (OR= 3.77) showed significantly higher odds of mortality by suicide compared to those with high school/GED or equivalent. Last, those with mental health problems (OR= 4.07), and alcohol problems (OR= 2.69) showed higher odds of mortality by suicide.

Conclusions/ Implications:

The present study resulting in a higher odd of suicide amongst recently released persons who have alcohol and mental health problems emphasizes the need for screening and referral to treatment during release from incarceration. The higher odds of suicide amongst persons married shows a need for ensuring healthy relationships amongst social supports. A need for support groups for families to educate them on attitudes and expectations of their intimate partner as they reenter can reduce suicide amongst this population. Implications for research needs to investigate contributing factors that puts persons at higher odds of mortality by suicide. Research on precipitating factors will inform reentry programs on essential areas to target for treatment that will reduce suicide rates amongst this population.