Citation

Rudd BN, Witzig J, Goff CN, Potter EN, Snyder SE, Ordorica C, Ivankova NV. Psychiatr. Serv. 2024; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2024, American Psychiatric Association)

DOI

10.1176/appi.ps.20220490

PMID

38369882

Abstract

This study aimed to explore suicide prevention in juvenile detention centers by conducting a case study of one state. Qualitative data from semistructured interviews were synthesized from 10 juvenile detention centers. Analytical techniques included thematic and content analysis and the integration of quantitative information and qualitative themes to illustrate key differences in suicide prevention practices and center characteristics among facilities with varying frequencies of crisis stabilization calls and critical incidents. Although the use of many suicide prevention practices was reported across the sample, the quality with which those practices were implemented was highly variable. The analysis suggests that facilities with higher-quality implementation of suicide prevention practices may have had leaders who acknowledged that their facility plays a role in suicide prevention. Moreover, preliminary evidence suggests that the quality of suicide prevention implementation may be associated with the number of crisis stabilization calls and critical incidents (i.e., variables related to suicidality) a facility experiences. Clear conceptualization of a juvenile detention center's role in suicide prevention may lead to better outcomes in suicide prevention implementation. High-quality implementation may reduce suicidality exhibited by youths in juvenile detention and save lives.

Keywords: Juvenile Justice

Language: en

Keywords

Implementation quality; Implementation science; Juvenile delinquency; Mixed methods; Suicide prevention; Suicide-adolescent