Embargoed until 0.01 Friday 16 March 2001

SANE ON NATIONAL CONFIDENTIAL INQUIRY INTO HOMICIDE AND SUICIDE BY PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS

SANE, the national mental health charity, today (Friday 16 March) commented on the five year report of the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness, ‘Safety First'.

Marjorie Wallace, Chief Executive of SANE, said:

"The report reveals the shocking and unnecessary waste of 1,280 lives over the last five years, every one of which was preventable. But SANE's findings would support a far higher figure.

"Had the inquiry team given credence to other sources in addition to the accounts of professionals - such as those of the families - of the 5,582 suicides and 186 homicides by psychiatric patients examined, it would have judged that many more lives could have been saved.

"Most disturbing is the numbers of people who commit suicide in the first few days and weeks after discharge from hospital, at a time when they should be receiving the highest level of care and supervision. Too many patients are suddenly catapulted into the community and left unsupported and often isolated. There is no excuse for the mental health services continuing to abandon people at the very time they are known to be most at risk."

In a survey of more than 10,000 people who contacted SANE's national helpline SANELINE mentioning a history of mental illness and suicidal intentions, 83% had consulted their psychiatrist, doctor or other professional within the previous four weeks.

SANE's analysis of over 30 independent inquiries into homicides by people in touch with mental health services the inquiry team found that in a quarter of cases they were judged to be preventable or predictable. One in four had sought help but received an inadequate response. Three in five cases involved a failure to consult family or carers or heed their warnings.

ends


Notes to Editors

1. The National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness is funded by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, the National Assembly for Wales, the Scottish Office and the Department of Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland.

2. The research team of The University of Manchester's Department of Psychiatry, is led by Professor Louis Appleby, who is also employed part time by the Department of Health as the National Director for Mental Health.

3. The research team estimated that around 250 suicides and 6 homicides per year in the UK were preventable, over the period studied (1996-2000).

4. These figures must of course be seen in context. They are the findings of an analysis of the actions of the minority and not the majority of people with mental illness who are never violent.