Prevention of Suicide in Psychiatric Patients (IN: The International Handbook of Suicide and Attempted Suicide, edited by K Hawton & K van Heeringen)

This chapter deals with suicide prevention in psychiatric patients & considers the possible benefits of 3 approaches: population strategies, reduced access to means of suicide, & the activities of mental health services. 3 steps are necessary if mental health services are to improve suicide prevention: high-risk groups of patients should be the main target of preventive measures; services should increase the intensity of the activities at high-risk periods; & specific aspects of services which would be expected to reduce risk should be strengthened. (68 refs.)