Suicide rates in Belgian prisons far above European average

Suicide rates among inmates in Belgium are twice as high as the European average, and up to three times higher than the median rate in other European countries. This is apparent from a report by the Council of Europe on European prisons, writes Flemish newspaper De Standaard. High suicides rates are possibly linked to structural overcrowding and widespread drug use in our prisons.

The report, which compares figures from EU member states and some non-EU countries like Turkey, Russia and the United Kingdom, puts Belgium in the top-5 of highest suicide rates. Per 10.000 prisoners there are 15 suicides, or twice the European average. Belgium has just over 11.000 inmates in its prison system.

Ranking the average suicide rates of European countries in ascending order, Belgium's 15 is even three times higher than the middle number (median) on te list, De Standaard writes. The suicide rate in Belgian prisons is 8 to 10 times higher than outside prison walls.

"There is a more fundamental problem of insufficient mental healthcare within the prison walls"

The report does not offer explanations for the higher suicide rates in our country's prisons, but structural overcrowding seems like one of the very likely culprits: Belgium also shows up in the top-5 of most overcrowded prison systems, shows the report.

"The number of suicides occurs especially in detention houses, where people are in pre-trial detention awaiting their trial (...) There are scripts for following up people who may be having difficulties", Chris De Vidt, chairman of the federation of Flemish prison directors, told Flemish public broadcaster VRT NWS. But overcrowding makes it hard to follow these scripts properly, federal Justice Minister Van Quickenborne admits. "There is a more fundamental problem of insufficient mental healthcare within the prison walls", he responded to inquiries by VRT NWS.

New detention houses are being built to house people serving short prison sentences, but they are slow in coming. New prisons are set to open in the autumn, although the question remains whether they will be able to solve the structural shortage of places.

High drug use might also play a role. According to Van Quickenborne, about 35 percent of Belgian prisoners are drug users.

(BRV)

Illustration picture shows a prisoner in a cel at the Leuven-Centraal prison in Leuven - © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK