Safety of home treatment 'must be improved' for mental health patients

Researchers are calling on care providers to improve the safety of home treatment for mental health patients, after research revealed suicide rates are almost double among those not admitted to a ward.

In one year in England, the number of patients with mental health issues that committed suicide while being treated at home increased to around 150 to 200 a year.

Conversely, suicide rates among those on mental health wards have continued on their downward trend, according to the annual report by the University of Manchester's National Confidential Inquiry into Homicide and Suicide by People with Mental Illness.

Despite this, the number of people treated at home has increased over recent years. However, the number of people admitted to in-patient care has decreased, possibly accounting slightly for the rise in home suicides.

Louis Appleby, professor of psychiatry at The University of Manchester and the government's health and criminal justice tsar, said: "The success in reducing suicide among in-patients now needs to be repeated in patients receiving treatment for acute mental illness at home.

"Suicide prevention measures on wards have been successful and should continue."

Improving mental health home care is especially vital, as figures show that one in four people will experience a problem in the course of the year.

Read about support and personalised care at Barchester care homes for anyone with mental health concerns.