103 inpatient suicides over a 21-year period in a psychiatric hospital in Melbourne were examined. 60 of these cases were compared with a matched group. Over 1/3 of the suicides occurred during approved leave & a similar number happened after absconding from the hospital. It is concluded that psychiatric units should be developed away from readily available methods of suicide & that patients should be carefully observed to prevent absconding & evaluated for suicide risk prior to approved leaves.