The relationship between NHS performance indicators and suicide rates.
OBJECTIVE
As mental health services have an important role in prevention of suicides, the relationship between Care Quality Commission performance ratings of mental health trusts and the local suicide rates were examined with the null hypothesis that there will be no relationship between them. Data on suicide rates for men and women aged 16-65 for each district covered by a mental health trust were ascertained from the Office of National Statistics for the year 2009. Data on performance ratings of mental health trusts for the same year were obtained from the Care Quality Commission Report.


RESULTS
There was no significant relationship between suicide rates in the districts covered by 60 mental health trusts in England and Wales and their performance ratings.


CONCLUSIONS
The negative findings suggest that the performance rating of mental health trusts do not influence local suicide rates.
West London Mental Health Trust, London, UK.
Galina
G
Zhinchin
Ajit
A
Shah
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D013222:State Medicine; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014852:Wales; D055815:Young Adult
NHS performance indicators; suicide rates