title: Suicide and mental illness: a clinical review of 15 years findings from the UK National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Suicide risk is most commonly associated with mental illness. In particular, suicide in people under mental health care presents distinct patterns of risk and opportunities for prevention due to their close proximity to specialist care.
  
  
  METHODS
  The National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness (Inquiry) is a unique UK-wide national database of all suicide cases in contact with mental health services in the 12 months preceding suicide. This review presents Inquiry findings from the beginning of the Inquiry in 1996 up to the present (2011) (15 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Suicide varies substantially by socio-demographic (age, gender) and clinical features (e.g. diagnosis; care variables). Effective suicide prevention initiatives should incorporate research findings to inform clinical practice and policy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Risk assessment remains one of the most difficult areas of clinical practice and management although all areas of clinical practice, research and policy development would benefit from continued high-quality studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Inquiry work has positively influenced mental health practice and policy in the UK. These changes include: falling suicide rates in mental health patients, informing suicide prevention strategies and developing safety checklists for mental health services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Investigating suicide in non-mental health settings, investigating suicide following different treatment services and investigating models of service delivery could usefully inform future directions for improving patient safety.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mental Health and Risk, 2nd Floor, Jean McFarlane Building, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. kirsten.windfuhr@manchester.ac.uk
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Windfuhr
authors.forename: Navneet
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kapur
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D000092864:Suicide Prevention