An organisational response to an increase in suicides: a case study
| Pages | 98-105 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/17465721211261905 |
| Published date | 14 September 2012 |
| Date | 14 September 2012 |
| Author | Wendy Burke,Denise Colmer,Neil Johnson,Jane Leigh,Brian Key,Catherine Parker |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
Case study
An organisational response to an increase
in suicides: a case study
Wendy Burke, Denise Colmer, Neil Johnson, Jane Leigh, Brian Key and Catherine Parker
Abstract
Purpose – This paper seeks to describe the development of a real time suicide alert system and to
identify how, as a result, organisations were able to respond in a timely way to an increasing trend in
suicides within the County Durham and Darlington area.
Design/methodology/approach – Between October 2008 and August 2009 an unprecedented
concentration of suicides occurred in County Durham, North East England. As a result, an independent
review of these deaths was conducted in 2009/2010. Recommendations from the review were
implemented and included the development of a real time suicide alert system.
Findings – Following implementation of the real time suicide alert system in autumn 2010 a further
significant concentration of cases was immediately identified. A total of 24 deaths were identified
between September and December 2010. There was a wide geographical spread across County
Durham and Darlington. The case profiles revealed a number of risk factors including recent
bereavement, relationship difficulties and financial problems. In addition sleeplessness, low mood and
problems associated with housing were also identified. Men under the age of 50 years accounted for
over 63 per cent of the cases. An organisational response in County Durham and Darlington was
triggered by the information provided via the real time alert. The response was framed by the case
profiles, evidence from the literature and lessons learned from other areas in the UK that had also
experienced an escalation of suicide cases. In January 2011 there were no further potential suicides in
County Durham and Darlington and the three-month rolling average number of suicides returned to
below expected limits, and this remains the case as of December 2011. No direct correlation between
the work of the response team across County Durham and Darlington and rate of suicides resuming
within normal limits can be claimed, indeed many of the initiatives are still being evaluated but the
organisation now has much better control over the ability to respond, characterised by timely evidence
based interventions and improved partnership working.
Practical implications – Thedevelopment of a local real time suicide alert system canreduce the delay
in the reporting of potential suicides and can identify trends; it can also provide the basis for a timely
organisational response.
Originality/value – This paper describes an innovative multiagency approach to the problem of delay
in the notification of suicides. This will be of interest to commissioners and providers who may want to
develop similar systems so that they can immediately identify an escalation of deaths due to suicide and
respond in timely manner.
Keywords Suicide, Prevention, Mental health, Mental health services, Education, Health promotion,
Depression, United Kingdom
Paper type Case study
Introduction
Suicide is a national public health concern and preventing suicide remains a priority for the
NHS from the origins of the first National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England in 2002
(Department of Health (DH), 2002) to the recent Consultation on Preventing Suicide
PAGE 98
j
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH
j
VOL. 11 NO. 3 2012, pp. 98-105, QEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1746-5729 DOI 10.1108/17465721211261905
Wendy Burke is Speciality
Registrar in Public Health,
Northern Deanery,
Newcastle, UK.
Denise Colmer is Senior
Practitioner: Suicide
Prevention Lead, Tees,
Esk and Wear Valley NHS
Mental Health Foundation
Trust, Durham, UK.
Neil Johnson is Mental
Health Lead, North East
Mental Health Development
Unit, Sunderland, UK.
Jane Leigh is Former
Clinical Champion and
Lead for Mental Health and
Learning Disability,
Brian Key is Former
North East Director of
Commissioning for Mental
Health and Learning
Disabilities, and Catherine
Parker is Public Health
Portfolio Lead, all at NHS
County Durham and
Darlington, Durham, UK.
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