I have 30 years’ experience as a prison officer and feel the fear every single day

Prisoners are bigger due to steroids. Spice turns inmates into zombies. And with social media they might know where we live

Working in a prison is like going through a meat grinder. You come out at the end of a shift with your head feeling completely mashed. One of the first incidents I remember is a prisoner sitting in his cell cutting his arm because he wanted me to get him a cigarette. He knew exactly what to do without putting his life at risk.

Things in prisons have changed a lot since then. Prisoners are much bigger than they were 30 years ago due to use of steroids inside. And they are more likely to be in gangs.

In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org