An estimated 49 to 65 hospital inpatient suicides occur each year in the United States, far fewer than the widely cited estimate of 1,500, according to a new study reported in The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety. Based on data from 27 states reporting to the National Violent Death Reporting System and hospitals reporting to The Joint Commission’s Sentinel Event Database, the study estimates the annual inpatient suicide rate at 3.2 per 100,000 psychiatric admissions and 0.03 per 100,000 non-psychiatric admissions. The findings also highlight the most common inpatient suicide methods and locations. The commission said the findings support recommendations by its expert panel last year that hospital settings associated with psychiatric treatment be made ligature-resistant environments. 
 

Related News Articles

Headline
Overdose deaths in the U.S. fell 26.9% last year to 80,391, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency reported…
Headline
The AHA May 12 responded to the Office of Management and Budget's April 11 request for information on regulatory relief, making 100 suggestions to the Trump…
Blog
One of our best strategies to address the unique behavioral health challenges and demands of pregnant women and new mothers is recognizing that mental health…
Headline
In observance of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week May 4-10, the Health Resources and Services Administration highlighted its Pediatric Mental Health…
Headline
Reps. Jennifer McClellan, D-Va., and Don Bacon, R-Neb., and Sens. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., today reintroduced AHA-supported…
Headline
Nurse leader and suicide survivor Bob Dent, DNP, R.N., shares his personal struggle with mental health that has continued even while managing a successful…