Letter: Fellow prisoners trained to prevent jail suicides in Swansea
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.AFTER the suicide of a 15-year- old remand prisoner in 1990, staff and prisoners at Swansea saw the need for a shared approach to the reduction of suicide and self- harm ('The death of Prisoner DB3178', Sunday Review, 26 July). Carefully selected prisoners are now trained, by the local branch of the Samaritans, as 'Listeners' to provide support to distressed prisoners.
A Listener can demonstrate that someone cares which - for a prisoner contemplating suicide, who perhaps finds it difficult to relate to staff - can mean the difference between coping and going under. The incidence of serious self-harm has fallen by half during the 11 months that the Swansea scheme has been in operation. No one has died.
The Listener scheme chips away at assumptions of 'them' and 'us'. Listeners sit with governors at suicide-prevention meetings. And, most important, they allow the opportunity for confidential discussion between prisoners.
Brian Davies
West Glamorgan
Probation Service
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments