Attempted suicide among the incarcerated population is a serious and complex mental health issue with major implications for the safety of correctional institutions that requires urgent intervention. This study aims to explore how incarcerated individuals in Malaysian prisons attempt suicide, including the type of method used, the motive for the attempt, as well as the environmental factors that impact the method chosen. This study uses a qualitative method and a descriptive phenomenological study design. In-depth in-person interviews were conducted with 27 incarcerated individuals, including 16 men and 11 women, from seven Malaysian prisons, all of whom had attempted suicide. The data from this interview were then analyzed using thematic analysis and six main themes emerged that explain the methods of suicide attempts used by the incarcerated population: (1) the use of fabrics as a means to hang themselves, (2) self-made sharp weapons, (3) self-drowning as a method, (4) taking excessive doses of drugs, (5) jumping from a high place and (6) banging head against the wall. The study highlights that the choice of method is not purely technical in nature, but is strongly influenced by psychosocial factors, emotional stress, and the context of life in prison. This implies the need for a more comprehensive and responsive preventative strategy to address the experience of people in prison, which should involve training for prison personnel, improved risk monitoring systems, as well as better access to psychological support.