Examined all deaths occurring in the inpatient population (true admissions = 1281) of the Central Mental Hospital during 1963-87. Death rate during the total period was 11.7/1000 admissions. Suicide rate was 3.9/1000 admissions. Many deaths prior to 1970 were of elderly long-stay patients who died from natural causes. Anticholinergic side effects of medication may have contributed to the deaths of 2 of 5 young patients. 4 of 7 suicides occurred in the months soon after admission. 11 refs.