Suicide in secure psychiatric facilities

Suicide may be defined as intentional self-killing, although the definition has been the subject of critical review (Fairbairn, 1995). As the determination of whether intent was present at the time of death by suicide can be difficult, coroner's inquests tend to underestimate the number of suicides. At the time of suicide, the vast majority of people are suffering from some form of mental disorder, although there may, exceptionally, be a few rational suicides. Suicide is a relatively uncommon event, but the possibility of suicide by those with mental disorders is always a potential hazard faced by health and allied professionals responsible for their care. Detention of a patient in hospital under mental health legislation is often precipitated by concern regarding risk of self-harm and/or risk of harm to others and potential for absconding and, at times, admission to a locked or secure facility is necessary. Detained patients in secure facilities include both offender patients, admitted through the courts or transferred during sentence from prison, and patients on civil orders under sections 2 or 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983. The relationship between suicidal behaviour and that which is violent or homicidal is complex but relevant to an understanding of the phenomenon of suicide in secure conditions.

Suicidal and violent or homicidal behaviour

About 30% of violent individuals have a history of self-destructive behaviour and 10–20% of suicidal persons have a history of violence to others (Plutchik & van Praag, 1990). Clinical studies have also confirmed in general a positive association between suicide or suicidal behaviour and violence to others (e.g, Convit et al, 1988). Although suicidal and violent behaviour are both influenced by multiple factors, the common thread linking the two may be an underlying propensity for elevated impulsivity, affective lability and behavioural disinhibition (Nock & Marzuk, 2000) and it is postulated that this could be mediated through impaired serotonin (5-HT) metabolism. A range of other social factors have also been recorded as being associated with both suicidal and violent behaviour, including a history of violence in the family, family conflict, access to weapons and male gender. Early Freudian psychoanalytic evaluation of the link between suicide and violence to others reflected a similar perspective: suicide was seen as aggressive and homicidal urges inwardly directed towards the self (Perelberg, 1999). Reduction in suicides during periods of war has also been noted.

The main mental disorders associated with increased risk of violence or homicide are schizophrenia, substance misuse and personality disorder. Suicide risk is elevated in all mental disorders except learning disability and dementia, but especially in depressive illness, schizophrenia, substance misuse and personality disorder (Harris & Barraclough, 1997). The potential, however, for depression or dysphoria to be associated with anger towards others should not be underestimated: people with depression do commit homicide (Malmquist, 1995).

Perhaps the most overt link between suicide and homicide is illustrated by the phenomenon of murder followed by suicide. Most commonly, the perpetrator is male and the victim female: a man killing his wife or lover and, less frequently, his children, with the context usually involving jealousy or threatened separation. Another type is that of an elderly male, declining in physical and mental health, who kills his wife and then himself, the motive here being more ‘altruistic’, the perception being that the killing relieves both parties of a burden. Occasionally, a perpetrator will kill several people outside of his family and then turn the gun on himself, although such mass homicides/suicide are more common in the USA than in Britain. The clinical literature also contains descriptions of patients in psychiatric hospitals who have killed other patients, having suicidal ideation either before or after the homicide, or both (e.g. Modestin & Boker, 1985).

Beyond the clinical sphere, mass suicides have occurred within some religious cults, although in a number of these cases, some of the cult members have been murdered or coerced into killing themselves. An example of contiguous homicides and suicide, where the deaths of the victims and that of the perpetrator may occur at the same time, is the suicide bomber, as illustrated by Japanese kamikaze pilots towards the end of the Second World War. More recently, this phenomenon has also been associated with Islamic fundamentalists in the Middle East and, on 11 September 2001, in the USA. Here, the act, as perceived by the perpetrators and their affiliates, is described as martyrdom. None the less, the elements of suicide are present, i.e. intent to die and with his/her death as the outcome, albeit along with the deaths of others (Laqueur, 2001). The phenomenon of suicide bombing may not, however, be construed as underpinned exclusively by religious nationalism. The Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka have also used such methods extensively without the background of orthodox religious ideology.

Since the early 1990s, increasing public concern has been expressed in Britain regarding homicides by those with mental illness. Although the proportion of homicides committed by this group has not increased, and may actually have decreased (Taylor & Gunn, 1999), public apprehension has not abated and, indeed, there may be an intrinsic fear of insanity engrained in the public psyche. It is worth noting, however, that the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ approach to unnatural deaths by psychiatric patients encompasses both suicide and homicide (Amos et al, 1997). The National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness has recently published its 5-year report covering England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (Department of Health, 2001).

Suicides in locked wards in general psychiatry

Mental Health Foundation report

The number of suicides by in-patients in psychiatric hospitals has risen over the past few decades, probably as a result of shorter lengths of stay and higher patient throughput. A report by the Mental Health Foundation (Banerjee et al, 1995) found that, in a 2-year period between April 1992 and March 1994, of the 206 patients who died from all causes while detained in all types of hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983 in England and Wales, 95 (46%) were thought to have committed suicide. Of these, 47% had a schizophrenic or related psychosis, and 22% had an affective disorder. Twenty-five (26%) committed suicide within the hospital; the majority, however, did so in the community, either while on authorised leave or when they had absconded, with the suicide usually occurring within a day of departure. The mode of death in those who died within the hospital was mostly by hanging (64%) or by self-strangulation (12%), with a small number dying by jumping from a height, overdose, drowning or fire. For the detained in-patients who died on leave, whether authorised or not, hanging was also the most common method (31%) but other methods were also not infrequent, especially jumping from a height or in front of moving vehicles, drowning and overdose. Of the 206 deaths, 169 (82%) were in general psychiatric hospitals, 11 (5%) being in intensive care units.

The Five Year Report of the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness (Department of Health, 2001) found that, in the 4 years from April 1996, there were 20927 suicides and open verdicts in Britain. There were 1579 homicides in the 3 years from April 1996; the shorter period for homicides reflects the longer time required to collect homicide statistics. It was known that 5099 (i.e. the Inquiry sample) of the suicides and open verdicts had been in contact with mental health services in the year before death. Sixteen per cent of the Inquiry cases in England and Wales were in-patients, 9% of whom were on locked wards. The level of security of these wards is, however, not stated, it being assumed that most were in general psychiatric units. The percentage of in-patient suicides was lower in Scotland (12%) and in Northern Ireland (10%). The main findings of the Report are summarised in Box 1.

Box 1 Suicides by in-patients in England and Wales: main findings of the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness (Department of Health, 2001)

16% of suicide cases were in-patients, 9% of whom were on locked wards

Only 31% of in-patient suicides occurred on the ward itself; the rest happened when patients were on authorised leave or (a smaller number) when they had absconded

In-patient suicides showed more severe mental illness, with higher rates of previous self-harm, previous violence to others and multiple admissions

Proportionately small numbers of in-patient suicides were from ethnic minorities (7%)

The main psychiatric diagnoses were: affective disorder (45%); schizophrenia (34%); personality disorder (9%); substance misuse (3%)

Comorbidity with a history of substance misuse was high (66%)

The main method of suicide on the ward was by hanging using a belt suspended from a curtain rail, or by self-strangulation

24% of in-patient suicides occurred in the first week of admission, 41% during discharge planning

23% of in-patient suicides were on special observations at the time of death; 3% were on constant observation

80% of the in-patient suicides were thought to have been at low risk at the time of death

Some units had poorly designed wards, problems with the number of disturbed patients and nursing shortages

Mental health teams thought that some in-patient suicides could have been prevented

Only a minority of the in-patient suicides (31%) occurred on the ward itself, the majority having been while the patient was on authorised leave or had absconded. Nine per cent of the in-patient suicides occurred on locked wards. It is not clear from the report what proportion of the patients committing suicide while away from the hospital had been on a locked ward before departure. In-patients who committed suicide were more severely ill, with a history of multiple admissions, higher rates of self-harm and previous violence, again emphasising the link between self-directed violence and violence to others.

Other studies have determined that a high proportion of patients detained in locked wards are of African–Caribbean origin (Moodley & Thornicroft, 1988). Taking this into account, the proportion of suicides by patients from that ethnic group was low and, indeed, a lower rate of suicide by this group has been recorded elsewhere (Neeleman et al, 1997). The main diagnoses of in-patient suicides were affective disorder, mostly depressive illness, schizophrenia and related psychoses, and personality disorder. Although substance misuse was rarely the main diagnosis, comorbidity with a history of substance misuse was common. Boxes 2–4 show the risk factors for suicide associated with depression, schizophrenia and substance misuse. Risk factors for suicide in those with personality disorder are less clear but probably include: borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder; comorbidity with depression or substance misuse; impulsivity; and a previous history of self-harm. Twenty-four per cent of in-patient suicides occurred during the first week after admission and 41% when plans for discharge were being put into place, emphasising the higher risk associated with the early acute phase and with apprehension regarding discharge. Hanging was the main method of suicide, although self-strangulation with a ligature but without a suspension point was also notable. Almost one-quarter of the patients who died were on special observation, 3% being on constant observation. This emphasises that intermittent extra observations have their limitations, and that even constant observation can be thwarted by a determined patient or by the inadequate execution of the procedure. Although, as a whole, most of the Inquiry suicides were not thought by clinical teams to have been preventable, this was less valid in the case of in-patient suicides, where team members felt some may have been averted by use of higher levels of observation, higher compliance with medication, better ward design and better staff training.

Box 2 Risk factors for suicide in schizophrenia

Male gender

Single status

Unemployment

Recent loss

Social isolation

Previous suicidal behaviour, especially by more lethal methods

Family history of suicide

Frequent exacerbations of psychosis

Comorbid substance misuse

Depression and hopelessness

Good premorbid level of functioning

Being early in the course of a disorder, in hospital or recently discharged

Command hallucinations

Psychiatric intensive care units

Not all psychiatric intensive care units (PICUs) in general psychiatry are locked wards but they accept patients whose level of disturbance, involving aggression or self-harm, cannot be adequately contained on open wards. Patients in such units tend to show high levels of aggression to self and to others. A high turnover of patients is also a feature, and indeed necessary, to maintain their function. The main issues related to the risk of self-harm in a PICU are as follows (after (Pereira & Lipsedge 2001):

• Level of suicidal intent The cognitive element common to many suicides is probably ambivalence rather than undiluted intent. Many give warnings of their thoughts of killing themselves prior to doing so. The absence, however, of prior warnings does not eliminate the potential for suicide, as some patients may prefer not to disclose their intentions. In a few cases, patients experience auditory hallucinations commanding them to kill themselves and not to tell others about it.

• Previous history of deliberate self-harm A previous episode of deliberate self-harm is a major risk factor for completed suicide, but most patients with such a history eventually die of natural causes.

• Clinical risk factors Diagnoses of depressive illness, schizophrenia, substance misuse or personality disorder raise the risk of suicide, as does a positive family history of suicide.

• Malignant alienation Staff treating patients who show persistent challenging behaviour may find that, over time, their ability to maintain a therapeutic relationship is impaired. This may lead to distancing or avoidance of the patient, a form of negative countertransference (Watts & Morgan, 1994). Malignant alienation was not, however, found to be a risk factor for suicide in a later study (Powell et al, 2000).

• Demographic and social factors Risk factors for suicide include being male, of older age (but there have been increases in suicide in young men over the past few decades), divorce, bereavement and adverse employment status.

• Physical aspects of the unit Access to potential points from which a ligature could be attached, electrical wiring, glass from a breakable window or heights from which to jump should all be eliminated and exit from the PICU needs to be controlled.

Box 4 Risk factors for suicide in alcohol and drug misuse

Long-standing substance misuse

Comorbidity with depression

Associated physical ill-health

Recent disruption of close interpersonal relationship

Lack of social support

Unemployment

Criminal record

Positive family history of alcohol misuse

Previous suicide attempts

Communication of suicidal ideas

Medium secure units

The primary role of medium secure units is the assessment and treatment of patients with mental disorders who pose a degree of risk to others beyond that which is safely manageable in a general psychiatric unit, but does not reach a level of risk which would necessitate location in high-security conditions, as pertain in a special hospital. Most patients in medium secure units are male and the commonest diagnosis is schizophrenia or a related psychosis. Most are referred from the criminal justice system, but a minority are transferred from general psychiatric units following difficulties of management, and some are transferred from special hospitals after a degree of improvement. Several studies have found an overrepresentation of male patients of African–Caribbean origin, the vast majority of whom are diagnosed as having a schizophrenic illness (Mohan et al, 1997).

Box 3 Risk factors for suicide in depression

Male gender, although the male:female ratio is lower for psychiatric in-patients

Elderly age group, although there are recent increases for young adult males

White ethnic origin

Lower socio-economic status

Unemployment

Divorce, separation, bereavement

Previous history of deliberate self-harm, especially by more lethal methods

Family history of suicide

Hopelessness

Stressful life events

Poor physical health, various medical conditions

Comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders, including substance misuse

Inadequate levels of treatment or compliance with antidepressants

History of violence or impulsivity

Few studies of medium secure units have referred to suicides within the unit or, indeed, to levels of deliberate self-harm, the main focus having been on violence to others. Non-fatal deliberate self-harm is usually more associated with female patients, although one study in a medium secure unit found that 45% of male patients had such a history, a level similar to that found in female patients (White et al, 1999). On the other hand, in a study in a medium secure unit by Torpy & Hall (1993), only 19 incidents of self-harm were recorded during a 2-year period, compared with 563 acts of physical aggression and 257 of verbal aggression.

Only two studies on medium security have considered suicide in more depth. Hambridge (1994), in a paper on the treatment of mentally disordered offenders who had been convicted of homicide, refers to the need always to recognise the potential for suicide in this group. Where such a potential exists, the pace of treatment must be consistent with that with which the patient can cope and, where necessary, restriction of freedom must be negotiated or imposed to prevent serious self-harm. Some patients, especially when gaining insight and where their victim was a close family member, may suffer guilt that triggers a suicidal crisis. Hambridge is also the only writer on suicide in medium security who notes the potentially protective role of harnessing religious beliefs in the minimisation of the risk of suicide. Rates of suicide are markedly less in societies with a predominantly Islamic faith, and some protection may also, to a lesser extent, be afforded by Catholicism.

In a survey of suicides in medium secure units in Britain, James (1996) recorded that 9 out of 21 units approached reported a death by suicide, a total of 13 such deaths being noted. Of these, 11 were by hanging, 1 by self-strangulation and 1 by drowning. James noted that patients in medium secure units often have multiple risk factors for suicide although, in fact, suicide in medium security is rare. The most common diagnosis for the suicides was schizophrenia, followed by affective disorder.

The suicides often occurred soon after transfer from prison, but suicides also occurred while prisoners were awaiting transfer to a medium secure unit. Staff commented that at the time of the suicide, the patient's mental state had seemed to be stable, such that suicide was unexpected. James considered that a balance is necessary between the need for restrictions to limit suicide risk and the need to prevent undue compromise in the overall quality of life for patients in a unit. Effective clinical assessment, a high staff-to-patient ratio, curtailment of materials that could be used as ligatures and environmental adjustments to remove hazards that could be used to suspend a ligature must all be effectively addressed. Constant supportive observation should be available, when appropriate, with intermittent extra observation when the degree of risk is still raised but is declining. Taking account of the highly challenging nature of some patients in medium secure units, malignant alienation is also relevant, a point reinforced by Whittle (1997). James (1996) rightly, therefore, emphasises the need for all staff, especially nursing staff, to have multi-disciplinary support in the implementation of care plans, as it is they who are with patients on an ongoing basis and who may feel most vulnerable in the event of an unexpected death.

Suicide in special hospitals

Although there is an overlap in the risk posed by patients in medium security compared with those in high security, the most dangerous patients are undoubtedly to be found in the special hospitals. These are mostly longer-established institutions with larger numbers of patients, most of whom have schizophrenia, but with sizeable minorities with personality disorder or learning disability. Comorbidity with a history of substance misuse is common. The male:female ratio in special hospitals is about 5:1, most wards being for either male or female patients. Risk factors for suicide in patients in special hospitals are probably even more pronounced than in medium secure units (Box 5).

My own unpublished research has indicated that between 1864, soon after Broadmoor opened, and 1933, i.e. the first 70 years of that hospital's history, there were only 21 suicides. In the period from 1934 to 2000, i.e. the next 66 years, there were 81 suicides, the peak decade being 1964–1973, when there were 23. Further research is required to determine not only the absolute numbers of suicides but also the suicide rates in the earlier and later periods. The overall death rate from all causes in Broadmoor in its early years is recorded as having been much lower than in general psychiatric hospitals, its suicide rate having been particularly low. It is notable that the alteration from a low rate of suicide in Broadmoor to a higher rate can be dated from the 1930s, a time when effective treatments for mental illness such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and, subsequently, antidepressants, antipsychotics and psychological therapy, became available. This seeming paradox requires further historical research as the usual assumption is that treatment reduces the risk of suicide. None the less, the reality seems to have been that in Broadmoor, the oldest special hospital in England and Wales, the number of suicides was very much lower at a time when the only treatment available was that of the milieu itself.

Box 5 Risk factors for suicide by patients in special hospitals and medium secure units

Male gender

Unmarried status

Unemployment

Previous psychiatric history

Severe mental disorder

Diagnosis of schizophrenia or personality disorder with elements of substance misuse and depression

History of childhood deprivation

History of disruption of relationships

Non-compliance with medication

Previous deliberate self-harm

Long criminal record, including violent or sexual offences

Probable need for lengthy admission and challenging behaviour

More contemporary studies of suicide and deliberate self-harm in special hospitals have been undertaken, but as with medium security the issue has to an extent been eclipsed by the main focus on violence towards others.

Swinton & Hopkins (1996) found a correlation in Ashworth Hospital between violence and self-injury in female patients with personality disorder but not in those with mental illness. Although not in itself a factor that determines admission to a special hospital, self-harming behaviour was seen by clinicians as an obstacle to transfer to conditions of lower security (Maden et al, 1995). Absconding or escapes from special hospitals are rare, but in various studies absconding has not been associated with suicide in any patient, except in one case later in the year after return (Moore, 2000), where the absconding and suicide were seen as having a common element of psychological avoidance. My colleagues and I (Gordon et al, 1997) have studied factors pertaining to relationships between homicide or violent behaviour and suicide in special hospitals. Further unpublished enquiries carried out with colleagues found that, in the 30-year period between 1966 and 1995 inclusive, there were just under 200 deaths from all causes in Broadmoor, of which about 30% were by suicide or probable suicide. Almost all of the suicides were by hanging or, less commonly, self-strangulation.

Occasionally, clusters of suicides have been reported, as in general psychiatric hospitals, but the reasons for their starting, or indeed stopping, are unclear. However, the role of imitation or ‘contagion’ needs to be considered, especially if more than one suicide has occurred within a short period.

Suicides in prison

Several studies have shown high rates of mental disorder in both remand and sentenced prisoners (e.g. Gunn et al, 1991). The main mental disorders in prisoners are personality disorder and substance misuse, as well as elevated rates of schizophrenia and related psychoses, all of which are associated with increased risk of suicide. There is also an excess of people with adjustment reactions, especially among young males in prison.

The risk of suicide in prison has been known for many years. However, a range of more recent studies has seemed to indicate a significant excess of suicides in prison compared with the general population (e.g. !Towl, 1999). However, taking account of prisoners’ high rates of mental disorder and substance misuse, including injectable opioids, it is not clear whether rates of suicide in prison are higher than in matched population samples in the community (Gore, 1999).

Box 6 shows the factors associated with suicides in prison. The National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness (Department of Health, 2001) found that 1% of all suicides in England and Wales were by prisoners who had been under National Health Service (NHS) mental health care during the previous 12 months.

Box 6 Risk factors associated with suicides in prison

Male gender

White ethnicity

History of mental disorder, especially personality disorder, schizophrenia, substance misuse or depression

Being older than the average prison population

Stress-induced adjustment reactions

Being on remand

Being a sentenced prisoner convicted of violent or sexual offences

Serving a long sentence, especially life

A long criminal record

Previous history of deliberate self-harm

Being bullied

Feeling guilt about index offence, especially where the victim was a family member

Prison overcrowding

High prevalence of traumatic life events

A report on suicides in prisons in England and Wales by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons (1999) noted that the rate of self-inflicted deaths in prisons more than doubled between 1982 and 1998, the rise being proportionately larger than that of the overall prison population during that period. However, taking account of the range of risk factors for suicide which are present in the prison population, it is not entirely clear whether the number of suicides in prison is in excess of that in a matched sample of the general population (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2002). However, this is not to underplay the need for better prevention of suicide in prison. Both the Chief Inspector of Prisons’ report (1999) and the National Confidential Inquiry report (Department of Health, 2001) also note that offenders with mental illness are still, at times, being sent to prison rather than to hospital, which would be more appropriate.

Suicide in other mentally disordered offenders

Concern has been expressed about the risk of suicide by mentally disordered offenders on probation in the community (Harding & Cameron, 1999). Probation officers have expressed the view that it would be more helpful to them if psychiatrists adopted a broader definition of mental disorder beyond that solely of mental illness, thus helping with people with personality disorder, substance misuse and sexual disorders.

Suicide is also the most likely cause of death in those in police custody; the majority of such deaths are by hanging, although some die from undetected drug overdose prior to having been taken into custody (Norfolk & Cartwright, 1996).

Treatment of suicidality in secure facilities

Effective clinical assessment of suicide risk in prisoners and in patients in secure psychiatric facilities must take full account of the evaluation of the mental state and stress factors in the individual and in the environment, and the potential for access to means of suicide. Prisoners with mental disorder who are assessed as suicidal should be considered for urgent transfer to a psychiatric hospital with the appropriate level of security.

Although for whole populations the introduction of effective treatments for mental illness has not resulted in any reduction in suicide, it is essential, none the less, to afford adequate treatment on an individual level. Psychosis should be controlled with conventional antipsychotic medication, or where efficacy or side-effects preclude its use, atypical antipsychotics should be given. Some studies have shown clozapine to have a specific effect of reducing suicidality in those with schizophrenia (Meltzer & Okayli, 1995). Depressed mood in patients with either depressive illness or schizophrenia may require adequate doses of antidepressants (tricyclics or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). In cases of high risk of suicide, there is evidence that ECT may be helpful and, indeed, it may well be that ECT is now underused as a result of its problematic public perception. As a treatment for depression, it may work rapidly and one study has shown that it carries a very low medico-legal risk of litigation (Slawson, 1992).

Patients with a history of substance misuse require an effective programme of relapse prevention. Those with personality disorder should have as equal a right to treatment as those with mental illness, albeit in a secure psychiatric facility with an appropriate remit. Provision of a combination of biological and psychological treatments may be beneficial in many cases of psychosis, depression and personality disorder.

Prevention of suicide in secure psychiatric facilities

The Mental Health Act (1983) Code of Practice (Department of Health & Welsh Office, 1999) outlines the need for patients to be protected from self-harm when the drive to do so is a result of mental disorder for which they are receiving care and treatment.

Box 7 lists the main parameters for the prevention of suicide in prisons and secure psychiatric facilities. Accurate clinical sensitivity to the patient's inner world is probably of paramount relevance in the approach to suicide risk (Morgan et al, 1998). Suppression of the active symptoms of mental illness, reduction of access to alcohol and drugs and treatment of substance misuse, supportive approaches to sources of stress and removal of the means of committing suicide should significantly reduce suicides in secure locations. In light of the complex relationship between suicide and violence towards others, any patient who is prone to violence towards others should be assessed for suicidality and, conversely, any patient who is suicidal should be assessed for risk of harm to others. Where a prisoner or patient is potentially suicidal, it is preferable to arrange constant rather than intermittent observation, as hanging or self-strangulation can cause death or irreversible brain damage within 5 minutes. The fact that suicides have been known to occur even during constant observation is not a reason to preclude its use. The efficiency of constant observation can be improved in a number of ways: for example, by ensuring that the patient does not hide his or her head under the bed clothes, by using nursing staff who know the patient and by limiting the duration of each nurse's observation period, to avoid fatigue. Some special hospitals still (controversially) use protective bedding and clothing that cannot be shredded or used as a ligature. In cases where the duration of suicidality is protracted, I feel that the use of such materials is justifiable, even if a little undignified. (It is very difficult to ensure the human rights of a patient if he or she is dead.)

Box 7 Factors for the prevention of suicide in secure psychiatric facilities

Accurate diagnostic assessment and effective treatment of mental disorder(s) and recognition of suicidality

Identification of stressors (e.g. overcrowding, bullying; effect of detention on relationships)

Prisoners or patients with a history of violence should be assessed for suicidal ideation and those who are suicidal assessed for potential for violence to others

Reduction or elimination of access to means of suicide

Monitoring of compliance with medication

Vigilance regarding development of malignant alienation

Use of constant observation for patients who are potentially suicidal

Prevention of absconding

Authorised leave to be contingent on a low risk of suicide

Use of befriender schemes in prison

Harnessing religious beliefs

In prisons, the use of strip cells has been much criticised and recently it has been phased out, with alternative strategies being advised. However, it is too early to know if these will be effective. Patients who are suicidal should not be secluded, according to the Code of Practice. In cases where there is a concurrent raised risk of serious violence to others, seclusion may be unavoidable, but it would have to be justified if subsequently challenged.

One of the few protective factors in suicide is religious commitment and, in some cases, this can be harnessed to reduce suicidality (although religion can also have its dangerous aspects, as noted earlier). I believe that in certain cases a chaplain or imam can play as much of a positive role in reducing suicidality as does a mental health team. Even where mental disorder is severe, the maintenance of hope is essential in the management of patients or prisoners, and loss of hope can foreshadow a suicide.

Postvention

The term ‘postvention’ was coined by Schneidman (Jobes et al, 2000) to refer to appropriate and helpful acts that may be used after an adverse event. The victims of a suicide include not only the prisoner or patient, but also those close to them – family or friends in the community, other prisoners or patients on the unit or in the hospital and the health professionals caring for them. A suicide is potentially traumatic to all of these people and support may be helpful in its aftermath. Family members may be vulnerable because of the effects of bereavement and shock at the manner of death, and their grief may encompass anger towards staff whom they may feel should have prevented the suicide. Patients on the ward should be sensitively informed and counselled, as should any other patients on other wards who were friendly with the dead patient. Owing to the occasional risk of ‘contagion’, mental state evaluation of patients on the dead person's ward and other relevant wards should be undertaken and high-risk patients identified. The police have to be informed in order that alternative causes of death, including homicide, can be ruled out. In the case of detained patients, the Mental Health Act Commission must be informed, and notification must be made to the Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness. The hospital should also hold an internal inquiry and there should be an ongoing internal hospital audit of such adverse events (Rose, 2000).

Concluding remarks

Risk factors for suicides in prisons and in secure psychiatric hospitals are extensive, and almost certainly far more suicides are prevented than actually succeed. But it is the completed suicides that become the focus of attention. Suicide has, however, been part of the human condition throughout history and its enduring nature testifies to the fact that, at times, the urge to destroy oneself overwhelms the instinct to continue with life. A paradox is that the rate of suicide did not decline during a century when the most effective treatments for mental illness were discovered, so clearly the phenomenon of suicide is affected by many parameters other than mental illness. None the less, attention to known risk factors, the use of vigorous treatment where appropriate, the removal of the means of suicide and ongoing audit of suicides may form a comprehensive basis for their reduction, both in the community and in secure psychiatric facilities.

Multiple choice questions

1. 1. Suicide is defined as:

   1. a attempting to harm oneself deliberately

   2. b killing oneself by accident

   3. c intentional self-killing

   4. d killing another person

   5. e deliberately taking risks that could be fatal.

2. 2. Homicide and suicide:

   1. a are completely unrelated behavioural phenomena

   2. b never occur together

   3. c are regarded by Freudians as both being types of homicide

3. 5. Suicides in prisons:

   1. a are not a matter for NHS involvement

   2. b may in some cases be triggered by stress factors

   3. c are mostly by hanging

   4. d are best dealt with by solitary confinement

   5. e may be reduced if other prisoners help in the management of prisoners who are suicidal.

MCQ answers

1		2		3		4		5
a	F	a	F	a	F	a	F	a	F
b	F	b	F	b	F	b	T	b	T
c	T	c	T	c	F	c	F	c	T
d	F	d	F	d	F	d	F	d	F
e	F	e	T	e	F	e	F	e	T