Post-release behavioral healthcare utilization and suicide risk among formerly incarcerated individuals.

Abstract

Introduction: Individuals who experience incarceration exhibit alarmingly high rates of suicide, particularly in the immediate post-release period. This study investigates the association between post-release behavioral healthcare utilization and suicide risk among individuals released from jail.

Methods: Incarceration records for 61 438 individuals released from Philadelphia County jails between 2003 and 2016 were linked with administrative datasets, including the Medical Examiner's Office, involuntary commitment petitions, Medicaid enrollment and behavioral health claims, and emergency housing episodes. Using marginal structural Cox proportional hazards models, we examined the impact of post-release service engagement on suicide risk.

Results: Sixty-five percent of formerly incarcerated individuals had behavioral health diagnoses. Only 27% used outpatient mental health services post-release, with 18% of these users engaging only once, and 28% used outpatient drug and alcohol services, with 21% of these users engaging only once. Low engagement in these services was associated with higher rates of suicide attempts and deaths.

Conclusion: These results underscore the critical need for comprehensive systems that ensure smooth transitions from jail-based to community care to facilitate continuous service engagement. Implementing targeted interventions and policies to improve access to and sustained engagement with behavioral healthcare services is imperative to reduce suicide risk among individuals who experience incarceration.