Year: 2009 Source: Psychiatric Services, v.60, no.1, (January 2009), p.80-85 SIEC No: 20100065

This study examined characteristics of suicides among mental health care users reported between 1996-2006 to the Dutch Health Care Inspectorate & the inspectorate’s follow-up responses. Data were collected from a sample of 505 of the 5,483 suicide notifications & included an equal number of cases to which the inspectorate did & did not respond. For 2006 notifications, the response rate was 37%. Responses most frequently addressed how & whether the suicide was evaluated & the adequacy of treatment. A follow-up response was more likely when the suicide involved a young patient, a patient treated in a mental health care setting for less than a year, or when the notification was accompanied by the institution’s plan for improving its policies. Since 2002, responses more frequently emphasized the importance of suicide risk assessment in accordance with guidelines. (7 refs.)