Suicide in psychiatric institutions

In 14 years of operation, there have been seven suicides among patients at the North Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center in Gainesville, a rate comparable to the experience at other psychiatric institutions. Suicides do occur among patients who have been carefully diagnosed, are receiving appropriate treatment and are monitored by a professionally trained staff. Even though the "occasional occurrence of in-hospital suicide is inevitable," psychiatrists have the responsibility to carry out all measures to prevent it.