This UK wide study [1] led by the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness explores evidence for how services can reduce suicide.
Download Patient suicide: the impact of service changes. A UK wide study
This study extends previous findings as it is UK wide, examines a wider range of service changes and explores patient suicide rates over a longer time period.
The recommendations and service changes examined include:
- ward safety
- specialist community mental health teams
- information sharing
- multi-disciplinary review of suicides, and
- NICE guidance of self-harm, depression and schizophrenia
Key messages
To improve safety, mental health services should:
- provide specialist community services such as crisis resolution/home treatment, assertive outreach and services for patients with dual diagnosis
- implement NICE guidance on depression
- share information with criminal justice agencies
- ensure physical safety, and reduce absconding on in-patient wards
- create a learning culture based on multi-disciplinary review.
Reference
1. National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness (NCISH) (2013) Patient suicide: the impact of service changes. A UK wide study. Manchester: University of Manchester.