Suicide: mental illness

The National Confidential Inquiry (NCI) into Suicides and Homicides by People with Mental Illness collects UK data on suicides and homicides by people under the care of psychiatric services (defined as those who have had service contact within the previous year). The NCI is a research project funded by the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA), the Scottish Government and Department of Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland.

The NCI reports that approximately one quarter of people who died by suicide in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland had been in contact with mental health services in the year before death.

ISD's report A profile of deaths by suicide in Scotland 2009-2014 presents results from the Scottish Suicide Information Database (ScotSID) on deaths from suicide registered in Scotland from 2009. It includes expanded information on demographics and prior contact with a range of health services, including outpatient and inpatient mental health services and prescribing in the community for mental health drugs.

Information on mental health in Scotland is available on the Mental Health section of this website.