Suicide and recent bereavement in mental health patients

On this page:

• Number of mental health patients who died by suicide following a recent bereavement in the UK and Jersey
• Characteristics of mental health patients who died by suicide and were recently (<3 months) bereaved
  • Socio-demographic characteristics
  • Clinical characteristics
  • Treatment
  • Method of suicide and adverse life events
  • Missed last contact

Number of mental health patients who died by suicide following a recent bereavement in the UK and Jersey

In 2012-2022, there were 1,312 mental health patients who died by suicide and had been recently (i.e. within 3 months) bereaved, 8% of all patients, an average of 119 deaths per year.

The number increased over two-fold in 2016-2022 compared to in 2012-2015, although we are estimating a fall in 2021 and 2022.

The increase was seen in both male and female patients, and in those aged 25-44, 45-54 and 65 and above, but not in those aged under 25.

The increase may be due to a greater awareness by clinicians of the impact of bereavement on mental health.

Suicide by recently (<3 months) bereaved mental health patients in the UK and Jersey

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Characteristics of mental health patients who died by suicide and were recently (<3 months) bereaved (UK and Jersey, 2012-2022)

Socio-demographic characteristics

Patients who died by suicide having been recently bereaved were more often female than other patients (526, 40% v. 4,689, 35%) and they were more likely to be older (median age 49yrs v. 46yrs), with more aged 65 and above (226, 18% v. 1,978, 14%). 19 (2%) were aged under 18 and 85 (7%) were aged 18-24. More were widowed (226, 20% v. 522, 4%) and living alone (629, 54% v. 6,239, 47%). See additional data and downloads for further information.

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Clinical characteristics

The most common primary diagnosis among those recently bereaved was depressive illness, similar to other patients (405, 34% v. 4,354, 32%), but they were more likely to be diagnosed with adjustment disorder (108, 9% v. 630, 5%) and to have a short (<1 year) history of illness (276, 26% v. 2,681, 22%).

More recently bereaved patients had either a comorbid (i.e. additional) mental (720, 61% v. 7,300, 54%) or physical illness (320, 29% v. 3,333, 25%). In 2019-2022, half had reported suffering from insomnia (58, 51% v. 387, 34%). A history of alcohol misuse was common (539, 47% v. 5,763, 44%), including recent (<3 months) misuse (399, 35% v. 3,966, 30%).

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Treatment

The majority of recently bereaved patients were receiving antidepressants (777, 68% v. 8,722, 66%) and a fifth were receiving psychological therapy (209, 19% v. 2,102, 16%).

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Method of suicide and adverse life events

A higher proportion died by self-poisoning compared to other patients (314, 26% v. 2,929, 21%). They were also more likely to die on or near the date of a family member or friend’s death anniversary (52, 7% v. 76, 1%). Nearly a fifth (178, 19%) had experienced recent (<3 months) serious financial problems, more than other patients (1,762, 16%).

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Missed last contact

More bereaved patients who died by suicide had missed their last appointment with services compared to other patients (290, 26% v. 2,650, 21%).

Estimation of short-term suicide risk was less likely to be viewed by clinicians as not present or low compared to other patients (788, 75% v. 9,641, 81%).

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