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A. Employees shall observe and listen to prisoners for <br /> signs of emotional distress and possible suicidal <br /> tendencies . They should consider present emotional <br /> state, recent life events, and current behavior. Some <br /> characteristics to watch for include, but are not <br /> limited to: <br /> 1 . EMOTIONAL STATE: Tension, Self-Criticism, <br /> Apathy, Feelings of Guilt, Feelings of Failure, <br /> Being a burden to others, Thoughts of <br /> self-punishment, Despondency or Euphoria. <br /> 2 . SIGNIFICANT LIFE EVENTS (PAST AND PRESENT) :Recent <br /> death or injury to loved one, Guilt or feelings <br /> that they contributed to death or injury, loss or <br /> fear of losing job, financial loss, money problems, <br /> divorce or fear of possible divorce, conflict with <br /> parent, children, spouse or others close to them. <br /> 3 . BEHAVIORAL SYMPTOMS : Crying spells or inability to <br /> cry, Excessive use of alcohol/drugs (Especially if <br /> this is not normal behavior) , Loss of appetite or <br /> interest in food, Listlessness or even high <br /> activity level, Excessive sleep, Neglect of <br /> personal appearance, Inattention or difficulty in <br /> concentration. <br /> B. It is not always possible to identify subjects that may <br /> attempt suicide. One or more of the above symptoms may <br /> be present in many persons. However, when the arrestee <br /> seems to possess several of these conditions, the <br /> jailer should attempt to find out as much about the <br /> inmate as possible by talking to them and listening to <br /> their responses . As more of the above variables are <br /> discovered the greater is the potential for suicide. <br /> If, after observing and evaluating the inmate, the <br /> jailer feels the inmate may be a possible suicide risk, <br /> the Watch Commander shall be notified immediately so <br /> that placement in another facility may be considered. <br /> C. As most suicides occur in the first few hours of <br /> incarceration, transfer high risk inmates to the county <br /> jail or a mental health facility should be considered <br /> by the the Watch Commander. While awaiting transport, <br /> if the inmate must be housed, they should be housed <br /> with other inmates conforming to their classification <br /> and segregation, to encourage verbal interaction to <br /> help the inmate cope with the depression being felt . <br /> D. Documentation of Records : Records belonging to persons <br /> who have attempted suicide or are highly suspected of <br /> being suicidal will be prominently marked to indicate <br /> that they are a possible suicide risk. This <br /> information should also be relayed to oncoming shifts <br /> and to county jail staff if the inmate is transferred. <br /> 38 <br />