Suicide in the Homeless Within 12 Months of Contact With Mental Health Services: a National Clinical Survey in the UK

This study sought to establish the numbers of homeless patients in contact with services who die by suicide & to describe their suicide methods & social & clinical characteristics including aspects of clinical care. A total of 131 individuals who died by suicide in England or Wales were reported to have been homeless at the time of death – 3% of all suicides by psychiatric patients, over 30 per year. Hanging was the most common cause of death. The most frequent diagnosis was schizophrenia. Around half were inpatients at the time of death. Social & clinical risk factors for suicide were common. Despite this, their clinical care was characterised by disengagement from services as a result of missed contacts, self-discharge, lack of follow-up, & lack of a key worker. (42 refs.) JA