How many deaths by suicide have been recorded in psychiatric units in each of the last five years and how many have led to the holding of a…

Every suicide is a tragedy that has a far reaching impact on family, friends and the community long after a person has died. The annual report of the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicides and Homicides by People with Mental Illness (July 2014) indicates that there are on average 18 in-patient suicides per year in Scotland. The number of in-patient suicides has fluctuated with no overall trend between 2002 and 2011. The information is not broken down to NHS board level, as to do so would risk identifying individual patients. The information available does not enable us to identify psychiatric units as the specific location of the completed suicide.
Fatal Accident Inquiries into deaths by suicide, where the person was not in legal custody at the time of their death, are held at the discretion of the Lord Advocate. Information from the Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit indicates that from April 2011, there have been no Fatal Accident Inquiries into deaths by suicide which occurred in psychiatric units.