Today is World Suicide Prevention Day which looks to raise awareness of suicide and how it can be prevented. It calls on the Government to take action, do more to prevent the number of suicides and encourage people to better support one another.
Suicide deaths in 2018
According to Office for National Statistics, there were over 6,500 suicide deaths in the UK last year. This is the highest amount for more than 15 years, and is a significant increase of 11.8% on the previous year.
Of this figure, 4,903 were male, which means that men are at greater risk. There was also an increase in the number of deaths for people aged 25 and under, in particular in women aged between 10 and 24.
World Suicide Prevention Day
How can the Government do more to prevent the number of suicides?
Aftercare and support following discharge from a mental health unit
Research released by Manchester University’s Centre for Mental Health and Safety in October 2018 shows that patients who experienced mental health problems are 38 times more likely to die from unnatural causes, such as suicide. They are also at an increased risk of self-harm and suicide in the first three months, following their discharge from hospital.
Some patients may require multi-agency support to keep them well following discharge from hospital. This support helps to protect them from a decline in their mental health, self-harm or at worst, suicide. This initial support is vitally important, but it is often vulnerable to low staffing levels and funding. The NHS need to do more to address this issue and help support patients as they transition back into the community.
Andy Bell, Deputy Chief Executive of the Centre for Mental Health, commented:
“We know that the days and weeks after someone leaves hospital can be difficult. It is essential that health and care services offer support when people need it, both in planning ahead while they are in hospital and in supporting them in the community when they return home.
“High quality help for people leaving hospital can save lives and should be the norm everywhere.”
Support provided to families following a suicide
People who have lost a loved one as a result of a suicide are also at a greater risk of committing suicide themselves, and it is vital that they are provided with care and support for their bereavement. Whilst NHS support is available, it is not always easy to find.
As Professor Gillian Leng, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Health and Social Care at NICE, commented:
“Suicide can have a devastating and traumatic experience for anyone dealing with the loss of a loved one. It is a difficult subject to talk about and too often it’s not clear what help is available.
“Bereavement support can help reduce the risk of those affected by a suicide taking their own life. It is important that service providers such as police, hospitals, ambulance services and GPs identify people to give information to and to ask if they need help.”
Out of area treatment and funding
A recent study by BMA found that a high number of people suffering from severe mental health conditions were being treated out of area, often hundreds of miles away from home. This is due to under-funding and a shortage of bed spaces in their local area.
Research in this area found that 18 Clinical Commissioning Groups and NHS Trusts across the country have closed mental health rehabilitation units. This has resulted in roughly five million people becoming reliant on receiving treatment away from their local area.
Receiving care out of area causes an additional stress to the patient, as they are away from their families and loved ones. They can feel very isolated and alone, which can have a detrimental effect on their mental health and recovery. It also puts an increased stress on family and loved ones, as it is harder to visit the patient and remain involved in their care.
Mental Health Five Year Forward View (MH FYFV)
The NHS published their MH FYFV in February 2016 which sets out their plans for improving and expanding mental health care by 2020/21.
In the plan, the NHS have promised an extra £1.6 billion in funding to help a million people with mental health issues. Given the above, we sincerely hope that this plan is rolled out to provide patients and families with the support they need.
Comment
Losing a loved one to suicide can be extremely distressing and painful. The devastating effect it has on families is indescribable, but it can also be frustrating as it leaves a lot of unanswered questions.
Not only are there practical implications, such as funeral arrangements, financial issues and care for children, families may also have to go through the process of attending an inquest which can be daunting. These are difficult to navigate at the best of times, but when compounded by a bereavement they can be overwhelming.
Whilst families can never be adequately compensated for the loss of a loved one due to suicide, compensation can help to handle some of the practical consequences. If you feel there have been failures in mental health care, which may have contributed to the death of a loved one, a claim can be pursued on their behalf.
How Nelsons can help
If you have any questions in relation to the points raised in this article, then please contact a member of our Medical Negligence team in Derby, Leicester or Nottingham on 0800 024 1976 or via our online form.