Souza GRM, Oliveira GL, Souza RL, Ribeiro AP, Silveira AM. Suicide and mental health among prison officers: an analysis of how digital media portray these events. Interface (Botucatu). 2026; 30: e250459 Doi: https://doi.org/10.1590/interface.250459
Abstracts
The objective of this study was to analyze how digital media portray suicide among prison officers, identifying predominant narratives, emphasized aspects, and possible impacts on public opinion. A total of 106 news reports were collected from social media platforms between September 2023 and March 2025 through an exploratory study using topic tracking methods. The posts were classified into three categories: “Occurrence” (25.5%), “Informative” (29.2%), and “Preventive measures” (45.3%). Most posts originated from labor unions and news portals. The most recurrent narrative links the rise in suicides among prison officers to precarious working conditions and the need for effective prevention measures. The results indicate that digital discourse tends to reinforce the recognition of the psychological suffering of these professionals, while also demanding institutional actions for mental healthcare and protection.
Keywords
Prison officers; Suicide; Mental health; Social media
Access in: https://doi.org/10.1590/interface.250459
