Caring for Male Prisoners Who Self-Harm: Perceptions, Attitudes and Experiences of Custodial Prison Staff and Male Prisoners in England

AbstractThe aims of this research were to explore custodial prison staff and male prisoners’ perceptions toward self-harm, prison system responses and environmental impacts on self-harm. Four staff focus groups (thematic analysis) and 12 semi-structured interviews with male prisoners (interpretative phenomenological analysis) took place in three prisons in England. Prison staff attributed manipulative intention to self-harm; self-harming prisoners felt misunderstood. The prison environment and formal response processes were barriers for care access and provision. Recommendations include staff training in understanding and management of self-harm, supported by a care-focused culture, and fostering safety, security, empowerment and value for both prisoners and staff.Keywords: Prison officersprison staffprisonersself-harmcare AcknowledgementsThank you to the staff and prisoners of this research and the prisons which hosted the research. This research was made possible because of funding from the Magna Carta Leverhulme Trust and support from Professor Lizzie Coles-Kemp, co-supervisor of this research.Disclosure statementWe have no conflict of interest to declare.