Aftermath of suicide in the hospital: institutional response.
BACKGROUND
A suicide can be a devastating event in the hospital, and few guidelines exist to aid an institution's response.


METHODS
The authors describe a framework of immediate, short-term and long-term responses in the event of an in-hospital suicide.


CONCLUSIONS
Implications for administration, communication, assessment, physical environment, and standards of care throughout the hospital are discussed that are relevant to both general-medical and psychiatric settings. Suggestions for the successful management of the aftermath of a suicide, such as the formation of a multidisciplinary leadership team, are included.
Ballard
Elizabeth D
ED
National Institute of Mental Health, Clinical Research Center, Building 10, Room 6-5340, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Pao
Maryland
M
Horowitz
Lisa
L
Lee
Laura M
LM
Henderson
David K
DK
Rosenstein
Donald L
DL
D003142:Communication; D006739:Hospital Administration / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012449:Safety; D013405:Suicide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States