A case-control study based on discharged patients from Hong Kong psychiatric hospitals in 1997-1999 was conducted. 97 suicides occurred within 60 days of discharge. The most common diagnosis & method were schizophrenia & falling from a height, respectively. There were no significant case-control differences in the drug treatment received. The overall number of risk factors had greater screening efficacy than any single factor. Vulnerable & uncooperative patients who lived alone & were exposed to work stresses were prone to immediate post-discharge suicide. (30 refs.)