§ Mr. BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, by health authority, the number of suicides of patients in community health care trusts in each of the past five years. [149499]
§ Mr. HuttonThe information requested is not available centrally. However, the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness does collect data on suicides by people in contact with mental health services in the year before death. The National Confidential Inquiry began collecting this data in only April 1996. In May 1999 the Inquiry published its report Safer Services outlining its findings over the two year period from April 1996. Copies of this report are available in the Library.