http://goo.gl/ngSIOe
Mental health patients are at their highest risk of dying by suicide in the first two weeks after leaving hospital - a report out today shows. Around 3,225 patients died by suicide in the UK within the first three months of their discharge from hospital - 18% of all patient suicides, between 2002-2012.
"This increased risk has been linked to short admissions and to life events so our recommendations are that careful and effective care planning is needed including for patients before they are discharged and for those who self-discharge.
"Early follow-up appointments should be strengthened and reducing the length of in-patient stay to ease pressure on beds should not be an aim in itself. Instead health professionals should ensure the adverse events that preceded the admission have been addressed.