Long descriptions of the figures on the ‘Diagnosis and service contact of mental health patients who died by suicide’ page

Description of pie chart: Primary diagnoses of mental health patients who died by suicide (UK and Jersey, 2012-2022)

The data shows the primary diagnoses of mental health patients who died by suicide in the UK and Jersey from 2012 to 2022. Affective disorders, including depressive illness and bipolar disorder, were the most common diagnoses, accounting for 39% of cases. Schizophrenia and other delusional disorders made up 15%, while personality disorders, alcohol dependence/misuse, anxiety disorders, drug dependence/misuse, adjustment disorders, and other diagnoses comprised the remaining percentages.

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Description of graph: Main primary diagnoses of mental health patients who died by suicide in the UK and Jersey

From 2012 to 2022, the number of patient suicides in the UK and Jersey varied across different diagnoses. Affective disorders consistently had the highest number of suicides, peaking at 737 in 2012 but then fell to 590 in 2022, with an increase to 689 in 2022. The number with schizophrenia and other delusional disorders was lower in 2017 to 2022 than in 2012-2016. The number with personality disorder increased in 2018-2020 but decreased in 2021-2022. The number with anxiety disorders increased between 2012 and 2022, peaking at 163 in 2021.

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Description of bar chart: Timing of last contact with mental health services by patients who died by suicide (UK and Jersey, 2012-2022)

The data shows the timing of the last contact with mental health services by patients who died by suicide in the UK and Jersey from 2012 to 2022. 46% had been seen either 24 hours before death (2671 patients) or within 1-7 days before death (5341 patients). Nearly a quarter were seen between 1 and 4 weeks before death (4,026 patients). The last contact was 5-13 weeks for 2,527 patients and more than 13 weeks before death for 2,898 patients.

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Description of bar chart: Service characteristics of mental health patients who died by suicide (UK and Jersey, 2012-2022)

The data from 2012 to 2022 shows that 5% of mental health patients who died by suicide were in-patients. 13% were under crisis resolution or home treatment, and another 13% had been recently discharged within the last three months. Additionally, 22% missed their last appointment, and 12% were non-adherent with their medication.

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Description of graph: Number of mental health in-patients who died by suicide and number who died by hanging/strangulation/asphyxiation on the ward in the UK and Jersey

The data shows the number of mental health in-patient suicides and the number of those who died by hanging, strangulation, or asphyxiation on the ward in the UK and Jersey from 2012 to 2022. In-patient suicides decreased from 123 in 2012 to 70 in 2020 but have not changed since, while deaths by hanging, strangulation, or asphyxiation on the ward peaked at 42 in 2012 and reaching a low of 20 in 2017 but since increased and by 2022, the number of these deaths increased to 26.

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Description of graph: Number and rate of mental health patients who died by suicide within 3 months of in-patient discharge in the UK and Jersey

The data shows the number and rate of post-discharge suicides in the UK from 2012 to 2022. The number of suicides ranged from a high of 269 in 2012 to a low of 177 in 2017. The rate of suicides per 10,000 people varied, peaking at 18.04 in 2012 and reaching its lowest at 11.81 in 2017. Both the number and rate have risen since 2017.

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Description of bar chart: Number of mental health patient deaths by suicide per week following discharge (UK and Jersey, 2012-2022)

The data shows the number of patient suicides per week following discharge in the UK and Jersey from 2012 to 2022. The highest number of suicides occurred in the first week after discharge, with 315 cases, and the numbers generally decreased over the following weeks, reaching 82 cases by the tenth week. There were slight fluctuations in the numbers, but the overall trend was a decline in suicides as more time passed since discharge.

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Description of bar chart: Number of mental health patient deaths by suicide per day in the week following discharge (UK and Jersey, 2012-2022)

The data shows the number of mental health patient deaths by suicide per day in the week following discharge in the UK and Jersey from 2012 to 2022. The highest number of suicides occurred on the third day after discharge, with 63 deaths, followed by the fourth day with 55 deaths. The lowest number of suicides was on the first day after discharge, with 24 deaths.

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