Suicide survey in a London borough: primary care and public health perspectives.
BACKGROUND
In order to achieve the national target of 20% reduction in suicide in the UK, many primary care trusts have developed local suicide prevention action plans. However, there is concern about a lack of a whole-system approach in some localities. Suicide surveys are a necessary component of any suicide reduction strategy.


METHODS
All deaths by suicides and open verdicts of a multi-ethnic, socio-economically diverse London Borough's residents between February 2005 and February 2008 were identified (n = 54). Health records of the identified subjects were analysed by two researchers.


RESULTS
The annual rate of suicide in the study period was 6.8 per 100 000 inhabitants. Of the 54 cases of suicide in the study period, 45% had a psychiatric diagnosis and 18% were in current contact with mental health services. Hanging was the most frequent mode of suicide. Twenty-four per cent were not registered with a GP, most of whom were immigrants. Twenty-five per cent had seen their GP within a month of suicide. The rate of suicide in those born in Ireland was 17.7 per 100 000.


CONCLUSIONS
Suicide survey is a feasible method of monitoring suicide, sharing data between key stakeholders and learning from the trends uncovered.
King's College London, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, PO 85, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK. dennis.ougrin@kcl.ac.uk
Dennis
D
Ougrin
Reetoo
R
Banarsee
Valentine
V
Dunn-Toroosian
Azeem
A
Majeed
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003625:Data Collection; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013405:Suicide / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult