Number of Suicide Attempts in Domestic Prisons Higher Than Ever

According to the Ministry of Justice, the increase in reported suicide attempts is attributed to the specialist group for suicide prevention, which examines and documents suspected cases. Improved prevention work and education increase sensitivity in correctional facilities, leading to more reports, according to the APA. Ombudswoman Gabriela Schwarz (ÖVP) is once again calling for improvements in suicide prevention for inmates, including a second assessment of suicide risk after eight to twelve weeks of detention, based on recommendations from an expert group commissioned by the Ministry of Justice in 2023.

Suicide Attempts in Domestic Prisons: Standards Recently Revised and Further Developed

Justice Minister Sporrer emphasizes in her response to an inquiry that the standards in the area of suicide prevention were recently revised and further developed with a decree in October 2025, to optimize response times, communication processes, and operational management: "The goal is a coordinated approach by the medical service, specialist services, care, inspection service, and prison guards, ensuring close monitoring and rapid, coordinated action." The minimum care standards for at-risk inmates would provide for five contacts per day with correctional staff, at least one of which must be made by a specialist service. In particularly precarious situations, unscheduled phone calls and visits would be granted, Sporrer clarifies.

The Ombudsoffice, however, has doubts about the case numbers disseminated by the Ministry of Justice. "Every attempted and actual suicide case in a correctional facility is reported to us by the Ministry of Justice. Accordingly, there were 55 suicide attempts this year, not 29 as stated," said Ombudswoman Schwarz on Wednesday afternoon. The Ministry of Justice had recently communicated on this issue that only "actually life-threatening attempts" are ultimately counted.

Ombudswoman Schwarz Demands "Immediate Measures" Against Suicide Attempts in Domestic Prisons

Ombudswoman Schwarz also identifies a discrepancy in the actual suicides: "We were not informed of any case from Wiener Neustadt. So it is assumed that there are not seven, but eight cases." In general, the case numbers should "alarm us to take immediate measures to improve conditions for inmates and staff. High occupancy numbers and too little staff are everyday occurrences in prisons. The result is poor care conditions, difficult resocialization, and increasing suicide numbers," Schwarz stated.

Support services for people with suicidal thoughts and their relatives are offered by the suicide prevention portal of the Ministry of Health. Contact details of support facilities in Austria can be found at www.suizid-praevention.gv.at. Information for young people is available at www.bittelebe.at.

(APA/Red)

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