Male prison inmates are highly suicide risk population. Suicide is single most common cause of death in correctional settings. This study was aimed to find out suicide rate in Slovene male prisons compared to that in general population. We compared our findings with prison suicide rates in European countries with highest suicide rates, and through this comparison planed to improve suicide preventive measures.

Data were collected from official reports on prison deaths in Slovenia and compared with data in SPACE 1.

In Slovenia male prison suicide rate (MPSR) is highest among all countries compared. It is also 8.3 higher then in general population. In Baltic countries where suicide rates are highest in Europe, MPSRs are on average only twice higher the in general population.

With our findings we argue that there is a lack of suicide preventive measures in Slovene prisons. Based on these data the programme of prison suicide prevention is now going on.