Mental Health & Social Care Bulletin No. 400

We are now 400, yes this bulletin is now in its 400th incarnation. NICE have issued their quality standard on self-harm.  There is new information from the government about plans for the delivery of social care and there is a report out on the data for homicide and suicides anong the mentally ill

Mental Health & Social care Bulletin No. 379

Depression and other mental health problems continue to take their toll. The official figures for the rates of suicide in the United Kingdom in 2011 have been published this week by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS figures show that the number of suicides rose last year; 437 more than 2010. There was a particular increase in male suicides with the rate for middle aged men high. The government's pledge of £1.5 million and a new prevention strategy last year have yet to yield results. You can read about this and more in Bulletin 379

Age and addiction

Research to be published by the Scottish Drugs Forum indicates that drug addicts over the age of 35 are more likely to commit suicide. A survey of over 70 users and their professionals involved in their care showed that they were likely to feel overwhelmed by their past experiences and a feeling of being neglected.

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Suicidal thoughts and Nortriptyline in men

A study carried out on 811 people with moderate to severe unipolar depression has found that the use of the common antidepressant Nortriptyline, whilst decreasing syptoms across the whole study group, increased suicidal thoughts in men by nearly 10% , compared to it counterpart escitalopram. The British study is published in BMC Medicine

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Read the original abstract

World Suicide Prevention Day

Today September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day


Check out the International Association for Suicide Prevention website for for the official page (official logo pictured)

Mental Health patients and suicide

A report, Coercion and Consent, published by the Mental Health Act Commission (MHCA), now part of the Care Quality Commission has stated that mental health care is still variable from service to service and patients have the right to a better standard of care. A third of the mental health patients who committed suicide, where supposed to be under surveillance according to the report. The Care Quality Commission has responded to the report voicing its own major concerns.

Suicides at an all time low in England

Statistics released by the Department of Health reveal that suicides rates in England are at an all time low in England. The Care Services Minister Phil Hope announced the publication of the annual report on suicide prevention which draws on data from 2007. He also announced the imminent publication of a new strategy for mental health: New Horizons which will "will focus on promoting positive mental health and wellbeing"

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