Culturally Responsive CBT and Mindfulness: Minimizing Suicidality in Correctional Settings

Individuals who are incarcerated are significantly more likely to experience mental illness and psychological distress than the general population. Many of these individuals do not have access to adequate mental health treatment. Rather than rehabilitation, correctional facilities focus on separating individuals deemed dangerous from the general population. With mental health being a primary topic in correctional settings, suicide mortality rates should be just as prevalent. While literature continues to document use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness separately, its documentation of both as a successful suicide prevention technique for this population is limited. The purpose of this paper is to explore how the use of CBT and mindfulness can prevent suicide for at-risk incarcerated individuals. CBT and mindfulness interventions can be potentially efficacious with individuals who are incarcerated and also at-risk for suicide.