Suicide Prevention in Inpatient Psychiatric Wards

Running head: PSYCHOLOGY DISSERTATION
PSYCHOLOGY DISSERTATION
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Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................2
1.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................2
1.2 Background to the study........................................................................................................2
1.3 Problem statement.................................................................................................................3
1.4 Research aim..........................................................................................................................3
1.5 Objectives..............................................................................................................................3
1.6 Research question..................................................................................................................4
1.7 Significance of the study.......................................................................................................4
1.8 Summary................................................................................................................................5
Bibliography:...................................................................................................................................6

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Topic: Suicide Prevention in Inpatient Psychiatric Wards
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction
Suicide is one of the leading reasons for deaths across the world especially within the last
two or three decades. As per the World Health Organization report, almost 800,000 people die
every year owing to suicide. The rate for Saudi Arabia is 3.2 per 100,000 populations. The
number is staggering and demonstrates the need for effective intervention. Organizations, both
government and nonprofit, have been formed to curb the rate of suicides in different countries
such as the International Association for Suicide Prevention, the National Institute of Mental
Health and so on. In Saudi Arabia, these international organizations operate to help people
refrain from committing suicide. One grave matter of concern is the suicides occurring in
inpatient psychiatric wards. Sakinofsky (2014) conducted a study on the deaths of patients in
psychiatric wards in the United States and found that around 48.5 to 64.9 percent of inpatient
suicides take place every year in US hospitals. Robinson et al. (2018) on the other hand, suggest
that suicide prevention especially in youth could be effective if it is focused on specific
demography such as the youth. The authors explain that suicide prevention strategies applied
within certain educational and clinical settings help reduce the harm caused by the youth on self.
This could also help prevent inpatient suicides in psychiatric wards. The research is dedicated
towards conducting a systematic review of suicide prevention in inpatient psychiatric wards. the
1.2 Background to the study
Inpatient psychiatric wards refer to the mental health centers that provide methodical
treatment to psychiatric patients in a residential background. The wards are equipped with all
kinds of facilities and amenities that include bathing, sleeping, treatment, recreation and dining
amongst others. As per the suicide prevention strategies, the inpatient psychiatric wards are
effective places where patients with suicidal tendencies are provided utmost care and support.
Inpatient psychiatric wards are opted by the staff as well because of the separate facilities
available for their patients. As Sheehan et al. (2013) observe the built environment of the
inpatient psychiatric ward plays an important role in establishing staff satisfaction. The authors

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found, “staff satisfaction with the built in environment was associated with noncorridor design
and with the provision of personal bathrooms for patients”.
The issue of suicide prevention comes from the number of patients committing suicide
within these inpatient psychiatric wards. Sakinofsky (2014) also notes that most of the suicides
in inpatient wards occur not exactly within the wards but outside it. The patient who commits
suicide was either on leave or was absconding. Studies regarding suicide in inpatient psychiatric
wards are numerous, which include the reasons behind the suicides and interventions as well.
Multiple reasons have been identified for inpatient psychiatric ward suicide among which, the
most visible are mental disorders, inability to meet medical expenses, hospital environment and
loss of social support. Other studies in this field have covered issues such as the risk factors
associated with suicides in hospital establishments, risk estimates and so on. Therefore, these
facts further establish the need to conduct a systematic review on suicide prevention in inpatient
psychiatric wards.
1.3 Research Rationale
Suicides have become one of the largest causes of deaths across the globe and yet, little research
has been done to address the issue. Suicides take place for multiple reasons but suicides in
inpatient psychiatric wards are amongst the worst. Inagaki et al. (2014) in their study on suicides
in inpatient psychiatric units in Japan found that between April 2001 to December 2012, 83%
patients committed suicide whereas 17% attempted it and sustained severe injuries. The situation
is more or less the same in other Asian countries including Saudi Arabia. As Al-Habeeb and
Qureshi (2008) have found in their research, Saudi Arabia lacks greatly in mental health
legislation despite the high rates of suicides occurring in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric
wards. the authors state that there is a remarkable lack in mental health legislation in Saudi
Arabia that could help prevent suicides in psychiatric wards. In a study by Koenig et al. (2014), it
was revealed that suicide risks are the greatest in inpatient psychiatric patients. The psychiatric
inpatients include those receiving treatment in the hospital, or are on leave or have escaped.
Numerous other studies have varying numbers of suicides in inpatient psychiatric wards ranging
from nine to almost 10,500 per 100,000 every year. Therefore, based on these facts, it could be
reiterated that an extensive research in finding prevention strategies of inpatient psychiatric
suicides is crucial and relevant.