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Many Latin American countries lack comprehensive policies, institutional frameworks, and high-quality protocols for suicide prevention in prisons, highlighting a widespread need for systemic improvement. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

January 1, 2026BMJ Global Health1 citationsOpen Access

Suicide prevention in Latin American prisons: a multiple case study with meta-matrix of policies, programmes and protocols in 17 countries

PCPablo Antonio Cifuentes-GramajoPontificia Universidad Católica de Chile LBLukas BeigelCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin FBFelix BacigalupoPontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Suicide is one of the most common causes of death in correctional settings. This study aimed to analyse prison suicide prevention policies and procedures across Latin America. METHODS: For this multiple case study, we collected data on prison suicide prevention in policies (laws), programmes (institutional framework) and protocols (procedures) from 17 Latin American countries, from (1) the public domain and (2) archival records held by prison administrations. The search was conducted using Google, through hand search on prison administration websites and requests to public information departments and prison administrations. Theory-driven thematic analysis was conducted based on 11 key components of suicide prevention in prison. Presence and quality of policies, programmes and protocols were assessed using tailored instruments. Between-country comparisons were made by cross-case analysis. RESULTS: Data were retrieved from 17 Latin American jurisdictions. Nine cases had a policy or law, 6 had an institutional plan or programme and 13 had suicide prevention protocols. In 6 of the 17 cases (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Panama), the three elements were present. Among the 13 cases with protocols, 7 (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay and Uruguay) had high, 2 had medium and 4 cases had low quantity and quality of key components. In the composite quality assessment of policies, programmes and protocols, three cases (Argentina, Colombia and Mexico) had high quality, four cases had medium quality and the other seven cases had low quality of suicide prevention in place. CONCLUSION: Many Latin American countries still need to draft policies and develop institutional frameworks for suicide prevention in prison. Most countries may review their suicide prevention protocols in prisons to cover all key components with clear procedures. Prison administrations in Latin America should publish internal plans and protocols for prison suicide prevention to facilitate cross-country policy evaluations and research.

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