Poor support ‘driving rise in deaths after discharge’

The rate of patients dying by suicide shortly after discharge from mental health units has increased in recent years, with researchers calling for better post-discharge support.

According to the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health annual report – an audit published by the Health Quality Improvement Partnership – the number and rate of deaths after discharge from a ward have been gradually increasing since 2017, after falling from 2013-17.

The rate in 2022, the most recent figures reported, was 14.1 per 10,000 discharges.

Isabelle Hunt, senior research fellow at the Manchester University and report co-author, told HSJ  the most recent figures should be “treated with caution”, but added that the rise in post-discharge suicides could be attributed to the case mix of patients. A “reduction in inpatient beds” could mean “a higher-risk group of patients are being managed by services” and being discharged when more unwell.

Dr Hunt said the increases could also be associated with changes in the circumstances patients are being discharged to.

“Around a quarter of patients who died by suicide within three months of discharge were known to have been discharged to housing, financial or employment problems and a fifth were discharged to poor social support,” Dr Hunt said.

“Awareness of the stressors patients may face after leaving hospital is a key element when judging the appropriateness of discharge, and greater involvement of families and carers is likely to provide a clearer picture of the circumstances a patient is returning to.”

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Source: HSJ, 12 March 2025