Psychiatric Patients and Suicide
Psychiatric Patients and Suicide
by Kevin Caruso
A study in Denmark yielded insight into patients who were at the greatest risk for dying by suicide.
The study indicated that the risk of suicide:
- was slightly higher for people who lived in urban areas.
- slightly increased with unemployment and low income.
- significantly increased for those who were admitted to a psychiatric hospital.
Almost 50% of the people who died by suicide had been admitted to a psychiatric hospital
at least once. And patients were at the greatest risk for suicide shortly after their admission and
the first week after their discharge.
Thus special care needs to be given at admission and after discharge to minimize the risk of suicide for patients.
Although many patients have died by suicide during or after a visit to a psychiatric hospital, it should be noted that most patients are effectively treated at hospitals and their condition improves. Also, many people who should go to a psychiatric hospital never do,
and die by suicide because of the lack of treatment.
It should not be concluded from this data that simply being admitted to a psychiatric hospital causes
people to die by suicide,
but rather people who are admitted have serious disorders and thus are in a high risk category.
If you or someone you know is suicidal, please go to the Home Page of this website for immediate help.
Thank you.
I love you.
Take care,
Kevin Caruso
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