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Suicidal ideation in offenders convicted of child sexual exploitation material offences
Author(s) -
Steel Chad M. S.,
Newman Emily,
O’Rourke Suzanne,
Quayle Ethel
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
behavioral sciences and the law
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.649
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1099-0798
pISSN - 0735-3936
DOI - 10.1002/bsl.2560
Subject(s) - suicidal ideation , suicide prevention , poison control , psychiatry , intervention (counseling) , human factors and ergonomics , psychology , injury prevention , population , compassion , occupational safety and health , clinical psychology , medicine , medical emergency , environmental health , pathology , political science , law
Understanding the prevalence of suicidal ideation in Child Sexual Exploitation Material (CSEM) offenders and their psychological concerns provides the basis for early treatment and intervention. This research solicited responses ( n = 78) via an anonymous, web‐based survey from adults in the United States previously convicted of CSEM offences. Significant suicidal ideation was present in 73% of respondents ( n = 57), and 19% ( n = 15) reported attempting suicide after they were made aware of an investigation, with 41% ( n = 32) stating they would have been likely to seek counselling if provided a contact. Most of the respondents felt they were not treated with fairness, understanding, and compassion by investigators, and that their primary psychological strains were going to jail and their families finding out. This research highlights the need for more empathetic investigative approaches, as well as the need for more rapid assessment and treatment of proximal suicide risk in this population.