Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Male Offenders: Initiation, Motivations, Emotions, and Precipitating Events

Abstract

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a complex issue that poses a risk to offenders and staff in all correctional jurisdictions and understanding of this behaviour in adult male offenders is limited. One hundred and four federally sentenced men in Canada participated in semi-structured interviews that were designed to assess their history of NSSI. Interview questions centered on mental health and history of abuse, suicide attempts, and non-suicidal self-injury, including whether the behaviour occurred before or after admission to a correctional facility. Coping was the most common reason provided for engaging in self-injury. The second most frequently reported reason was instrumental reasons, which involved using NSSI to exert control or obtain external rewards. Among a subset of men who first initiated NSSI in a Canadian federal institution, institutional-specific interpersonal influence was the most frequent motivation. The emotions most commonly reported by the men prior to engaging in NSSI were anger and frustration, and the emotions most commonly reported following NSSI were relief, followed by regret. Given that the motivations for NSSI and the emotions experienced by the individual can vary considerably, interventions should consider these motivations and emotions.

Keywords:

• male offenders
• self-injurious behaviour
• suicide
• mental health