Do English mental health services know whether they followed N.I.C.E. guidelines with patients who killed themselves?

Freedom of Information Act requests sent to 51 NHS mental health providers in England showed an average of 20.5 suicides per organization. Only one provider, however, could report how many people that had killed themselves had been offered N.I.C.E. recommended psychological therapy. Information that might prevent suicides is being ignored.

Mental health services need, urgently, to develop data systems that can inform clinical team leaders about gaps in their services to suicidal people in their care Clinical psychologists have a particular responsibility to pressure managers to effectively monitor the provision of evidence-based treatments to suicidal people Trusts and commissioners must be aware of, and rectify, any failings of their services in relation to the prevention of suicide.