COLUMNS: LAW AND PSYCHIATRYPreventing SuicideReid, William H. MD, MPH Author Information Clinical and forensic psychiatrist and a past president of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. His website, Psychiatry and Law Updates, is www.psychandlaw.org. This column contains general information which should not be construed as applying to any specific case, nor as any form of legal advice Journal of Psychiatric Practice: March 2010 - Volume 16 - Issue 2 - p 120-124 doi: 10.1097/01.pra.0000369973.10650.13 Buy Metrics Abstract About 35,000 people commit suicide every year in the United States. Almost all are seriously, but treatably, mentally ill. Most come to the attention of a physician, in an emergency room, primary practice setting, or psychiatric hospital or office, during the days, weeks or months before they die. Since 1995, suicide has been the second most commonly reported of all Joint Commission hospital sentinel events (not just psychiatric events). Suicide is involved in the majority of psychiatric malpractice lawsuits. It takes life from patients, parents from children, children from families, and valuable people from society. Suicide is a terrible way to lose a relative or friend, leaving much greater damage than most natural or accidental death. This paper discusses four points to be considered by those who want to improve this situation: 1) Suicide is rarely “voluntary” in any clinical sense of the term; 2) A great many suicides are preventable once a clinician becomes involved; 3) Suicide is worth preventing; 4) There are practical approaches to prevention that work. Copyright © 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
