When prisoners are on suicide watch, what is to stop them punching themselves really hard in the throat?

Answer 1

Jeez you've really given this some thought haven't you?
I hope your writing an exciting screenplay with that active imagination!
I imagine they would strap down and sedate any really desperate cases.

Answer 2

You have to know that a lot of prisoners on suicide watch actually do harm themselves and often are successful in their attempt to commit suicide. Every case is a very sad one. Why they do it? There are many reasons. Often, prison staff are successful in stopping them, but I suppose that if someone is determined to take their own life then they will do it in one or another way. I guess that their soul pain outweighs their physical pain at the moment of harming themselves. If punching themselves really hard in the throat is an appropriate method they will do it. Visit http://www.ppo.gov.uk/fainrep.htm and you will learn more about different cases.

Answer 3

There is actually nothing to stop them punching themselves in the throat

Violence towards oneself can be accomplished easily, headbanging for example is an effective method of hurting and damaging oneself, it is not however a good method to end ones life.

Therapeutic interactive contact to reduce isolation, exploring alternative strategies to help manage the sense of hopelessness or anger that is undertaken by staff or fellow prisoners who are experienced in working with those who are at risk of self harm is a very common feature of prison life

Self harm will always be a method of coping or dealing with problems and frustrations however with a rising prison population the number of self inflicted deaths is falling

Answer 4

I work in a psychiatric unit. According to people I've asked it shouldn't be possible but then again there is not enough information available for me to say whether it hasn't happened somewhere in the world. I know you cannot stop yourself from breathing by holding your breath though. I've seen patients do this; they go red then eventually blurt out air and start breathing, but thats not to say that if a patient had an underlying medical condition it couldn't be possible. If a patient were to begin deliberately self harming (severe head/limb banging or attempting to tie ligatures etc) they would be physically restrained by staff for their own saftey as we have a duty of care. Contrary to what someone else suggested we do not use straightjackets as this is considered mechanical restraint and not allowed in our unit.

Answer 5

My brother was in jail with a guy on watch, he had tried a couple of different times. He then struck on the idea of using something(forgot what he told me exactly) and stabbed himself in the scrotum..which of course bled profusely...in hopes that they would'nt get to him in time..but they did (barely) that time and he lived to serve another day. The truth is that they keep them on pretty close watch and sometimes they will resort to restraint of some kind..but sometimes the suicidal prisoner accomplishes what he set out to do.

Answer 6

Suicidal people are not actually that into pain, generally. They are generally seeking a quick or irreversible method to die. So actually they probably would not even consider that method. Also, suicide watch usually does mean you're being watched so if you tried doing stuff like that they would come in and restrain you.

Answer 7

I don't know if you can get enough power behind a self-inflicted punch to kill your-self.I know there are a couple of places in the throat that are vulnerable,because the military teaches that in unarmed combat training,but the ordinary Joe wouldn't know them.

Answer 8

I believe they're restrained in some sort of way. As hard as the walls are, it wouldn't be hard, if one was that intent on killing themselves, to continually headbutt a brick wall until brain damage set in.

Answer 9

It is practically impossible to puncgh yourself hard enough to do any harm. Your subconscious is watching out for you & will not allow it.

Answer 10

well im yet to hear of someone doing that .but whats the alternative anyway? chopping their arms off? they could easily bang their head hard against the wall.shall we chop their heads off,just incase???