Gram Seed, who spent years in prison himself, was speaking after the Howard League for Penal Reform said prison suicides have reached an all-time high.
The charity said they know of 102 so far this year, amounting to one every three days. It says the number is probably higher in reality and that it could rise further over the festive period, when suicides and self-harming tends to increase.
The previous high was 94 suicides in a year in 2004.
The Howard League has claimed chronic overcrowding in prisons, coupled with decreasing prison staff numbers, is driving the rise in suicides.
The figures come at a time of heightened scrutiny on England and Wales' prisons, with an alleged murder, a mass walkout by prison staff, a riot causing nearly one million pound's worth of damage and several escapes all happening with the last few months.
Speaking on Premier's News Hour, Gram Seed from Sowing Seeds Ministries said: "I'd to see the government put more staff in who can go in and care for these men who really want to change, and give them associations.
"Some of your listeners might be saying: 'well, they've committed crimes'. Yeah they have committed crimes. I've committed crimes. But without someone putting their arm round you, and then correcting you in love, then we're just creating more and more problems for ourselves.
"People who're in jail are there to be punished but we're still people with feelings."
Listen to Premier's Alex Williams speaking to Gram Seed on the News Hour:
