The National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide, Homicide and Safety in Mental Health (NCISH) is an internationally unique project.

Our study has collected in-depth information on all suicides in the UK since 1996. Our recommendations have improved patient safety in mental health settings and reduced patient suicide rates, contributing to an overall reduction in suicide in the UK. Our evidence is cited in national policies and clinical guidance and regulation in all UK countries.

Due to overriding public interest in improving safety in clinical services, the National Data Opt-Out (where a person chooses not to have their health data shared for reasons beyond treatment and care) does not apply to data we collect.

Information for practitioners

Information for service users and carers

Download our toolkits

Information about our exemption from applying the National Data Opt-Out

We have been collecting data for over 20 years. Based on our evidence from studies of mental health services, primary care and accident and emergency departments we have developed a list of 10 key elements for safer care for patients.

These recommendations have been shown to reduce suicide rates.

Our recommendations

Use the links below to read more about our individual recommendations.

• Safer wards
• Early follow-up on discharge
• No out-of-area admissions
• 24-hour crisis resolution/home treatment teams
• Family involvement
• Guidance on depression
• Personalised approach to risk
• Outreach teams
• Low staff turnover
• Reducing alcohol and drug misuse

Safer services

Our toolkit presents the 10 key elements as quality and safety statements about clinical and organisational aspects of care. It can be used by mental health care providers as a basis for self-assessment.

Download our Safer Services toolkit (PDF version)

Download a Word version of our Safer Services toolkit, which can be used to record progress.

Download a visual representation of our 10 key elements for safer care of patients.

Watch an animated video about our 10 ways to improve safety.

Toolkit for self-harm

A toolkit for self-assessment based on the NICE Quality Standard for Self-Harm.

Download Services for Self-Harm toolkit (PDF version)

Download Services for Self-Harm toolkit (Word version)