Abstract

-CHACON, Maureen Baltodano  and  -CUEVA, Miguel Márquez. Suicidal ideation in prisoners: A proposal for your attention. InterSedes [online]. 2014, vol.15, n.32, pp.223-248. ISSN 2215-2458.

Suicidal behavior is considered the third leading cause of death in prisons. This research detected the presence of suicidal ideation in prisoners (core element of suicidal behavior) in the Centro del Programa de Atención Institucional (CPI) de Liberia, Costa Rica, and designed a psycho educational prevention proposal to address that cognitive reaction grounded on the cognitive behavioral approach. From July to December 2011, Both Beck's Suicidal Ideation scale and Suicide Probability Scale were applied to a group of 127 prisoners. The first data collection tool found that 10.2% of the prisoners have suicidal ideas while 11% are at risk of doing so. The proposal includes 8 sessions and is aimed at a risk population. The themes were: 1 Overview of Suicide. 2 Fundamentals of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). 3 Cognitive distortions. 4. Irrational ideas. 5. Impulsiveness. 6 Handling frustration. 7 Self-Esteem. 8 Life Project.

Conclusions drawn from the study suggest that: a) Irrational thinking and cognitive distortions are the prisioners main causes of suicidal intent b) the fact that suicidal ideation does not end up in completed suicide is related to protective factors, and c) Suicidal ideation emerges in response to escaping life difficulties.

Keywords : Costa Rica - Guanacaste - Suicidal behavior - prisoners.

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