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Jumping from a general hospital
R T White1, R J Gribble, M J Corr
1Department of Psychiatry, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, New South Wales, Australia.
General Hospital Psychiatry
|May 1, 1995
Summary
Hospital suicides by jumping are a serious concern. Prevention strategies should focus on limiting access to windows and balconies, especially for medically ill patients experiencing pain or confusion.
Area of Science:
- Medical research
- Public health
- Hospital safety
Background:
- Jumping is a common suicide method in hospitals.
- No comprehensive reviews on non-psychiatric inpatient suicides since 1980.
- This study addresses a critical gap in understanding hospital-related suicides.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review suicides by jumping in a general teaching hospital.
- To identify risk factors and clinical profiles of patients who jump.
- To inform prevention strategies for hospital suicides.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 12 inpatient suicides by jumping (1980-1992).
- Analysis of clinical subgroups: post-suicide attempt, acutely delirious, chronically medically ill.
- Comparison with 30 nonfatal jumpers from the Emergency Department.
Main Results:
- Eight fatalities occurred, yielding a suicide rate of 1.7 per 100,000 admissions.
- Chronically medically ill patients often presented with pain, dyspnea, confusion, and poor prognosis.
- Fatal jumpers differed from nonfatal jumpers by having more medical illnesses, older age, male gender, and no prior psychiatric history.
Conclusions:
- Hospital jumping poses a significant risk, particularly for non-psychiatric inpatients.
- Patient factors like medical illness, pain, and confusion are critical.
- Environmental factors, specifically access to windows and balconies, are key to prevention.