Suicide: a target for health (continuing education credit)

There were almost 4,000 suicides in England and Wales in 1992, and for every completed suicide there are probably at least 25 attempts. Many attempts at suicide are not the patient's first, and it has been estimated that one in four people who attempt suicide will try a second time, probably within the following three months. Of these, 10 per cent will succeed. General nurses often have a key role in caring for people who have attempted to take their lives. This article is relevant to the UKCC Professional Development Category of Reducing Risk.