–6– iii) suicide prevention 57. Suicide prevention is another matter falling within the purview of a prison's health care service. It should ensure that there is an adequate awareness of this subject throughout the establishment, and that appropriate procedures are in place. 58. Medical screening on arrival, and the reception process as a whole, has an important role to play in this context; performed properly, it could identify at least certain of those at risk and relieve some of the anxiety experienced by all newly-arrived prisoners. Further, prison staff, whatever their particular job, should be made aware of (which implies being trained in recognising) indications of suicidal risk. In this connection it should be noted that the periods immediately before and after trial and, in some cases, the pre-release period, involve an increased risk of suicide. 59. A person identified as a suicide risk should, for as long as necessary, be kept under a special observation scheme. Further, such persons should not have easy access to means of killing themselves (cell window bars, broken glass, belts or ties, etc). Steps should also be taken to ensure a proper flow of information - both within a given establishment and, as appropriate, between establishments (and more specifically between their respective health care services) - about persons who have been identified as potentially at risk. iv) prevention of violence 60. Prison health care services can contribute to the prevention of violence against detained persons, through the systematic recording of injuries and, if appropriate, the provision of general information to the relevant authorities. Information could also be forwarded on specific cases, though as a rule such action should only be undertaken with the consent of the prisoners concerned. 61. Any signs of violence observed when a prisoner is medically screened on his admission to the establishment should be fully recorded, together with any relevant statements by the prisoner and the doctor’s conclusions. Further, this information should be made available to the prisoner. The same approach should be followed whenever a prisoner is medically examined following a violent episode within the prison (see also paragraph 53 of the CPT's 2nd General report: CPT/Inf (92) 3) or on his readmission to prison after having been temporarily returned to police custody for the purposes of an investigation. 62. The health care service could compile periodic statistics concerning injuries observed, for the attention of prison management, the Ministry of Justice, etc. v) social and family ties 63. The health care service may also help to limit the disruption of social and family ties which usually goes hand in hand with imprisonment. It should support - in association with the relevant social services - measures that foster prisoners' contacts with the outside world, such as properlyequipped visiting areas, family or spouse/partner visits under appropriate conditions, and leaves in family, occupational, educational and socio-cultural contexts. According to the circumstances, a prison doctor may take action in order to obtain the grant or continued payment of social insurance benefits to prisoners and their families.