Strategies for Reducing Suicide Risks Post Psychiatric Discharge

This report addresses the critical issue of increased suicide rates among patients discharged from psychiatric facilities. It explores the problem from a nursing perspective, highlighting the disconnection patients often feel after leaving the secure environment of a psychiatric facility. The report references several research studies that emphasize the importance of continued support and connection for patients to mitigate suicidal impulses. It discusses the implications for clinical governance and leadership, advocating for specific measures to ensure patient protection and care post-discharge, including the involvement of families and community support. The report concludes by emphasizing the need for collaboration between psychiatric facilities, local governments, and the community to facilitate a smooth transition and ongoing support for discharged patients, ultimately aiming to reduce suicide rates and improve patient outcomes. The paper suggests that Australian healthcare facilities should work with local governments to enhance these changes.

Running head: ADDRESSING SUICIDE RISKS AFTER PSYCHIATRIC DISCHARGE
Addressing Suicide Risks after Psychiatric Discharge
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ADDRESSING SUICIDE RISKS AFTER PSYCHIATRIC DISCHARGE 1
Addressing Suicide Risks after Psychiatric Discharge
Introduction
Psychiatric facilities are meant to help patients overcome suicidal behaviors, but recent
studies indicate an increment in suicide rates for patients discharged from psychiatric facilities. A
research study by Chung, Ryan, Hadzi-Pavlovic, Singh, Stanton, and Large (2017), found that
about four percent of people admitted in psychiatric facilities commit suicide within the first
three months after discharge. This raises concern about the efficiency of psychiatric facilities, the
community, and the government’s role at large. This paper explores this problem from the
nursing point of view and suggests how society and government could work together to prove
follow-up on patients discharged from psychiatric facilities.
Mental disorders interfere with the normal life of patients, triggering suicidal impulses.
When enrolled in psychiatric facilities, they feel safe, secure, connected, protected (Bickley,
Hunt, Windfuhr, Shaw, Appleby, & Kapur, 2015). This feeling weakens during their last days in
the facility and may even worsen once the patient has been discharged and released to the society
that knows nothing about the patient. A study by Berg, Rortveit, and Aase (2017) explored the
experiences of patients with mental disorders in health facilities and the time when they are
discharged from the facilities. The study found that patients with mental disorders required a
sense of protection and connection once they have been discharged from the facility. Olfson,
Wall, and Wang (2017) explains that when patients lose this connection and protection, suicidal
impulses increase and leading to an increase in suicide rates.
Implication for Clinical Governance and Leadership
It is evident from the analysis above that disconnection from the psychiatric facility. The
patient develops a feeling of abandonment that triggers suicidal thoughts (Atkinson, Page,

ADDRESSING SUICIDE RISKS AFTER PSYCHIATRIC DISCHARGE 2
Heffernan, McDonnel, Prodan, A., Bill, & Hickie, 2018). If the person is not exposed to proper
support, chances of suicide are high as explained in Falcone, Nardella, Lamis, Erbuto, Girardi,
and Pompili (2017). This feeling of abandonment occurs due to poor planning from the clinical
facility, society, and the family of the patient. As a result, there has to be specific measures that
assure the patient of proper protection and care once they leave the facility (Victoria State
Government, 2019). One of the goals of Victoria Healthcare Department is to provide high-
quality care (Safe Care Victoria, 2017). For patients that have been discharged from clinical
facilities and the local governments should ensure continued support and reintegration of the
person after the psychiatric program. Families could be assigned nurses to extend care beyond
the psychiatric facility.
Conclusion
The issue of suicide rates among patients discharged from psychiatric facilities can be
tackled. Discharged patients feel abandoned and insecure after leaving the treatment facility. The
disconnection between the psychiatric facility and the community contribute to this feeling of
abandonment. Psychiatric facilities should liaise with the community of the patient to ensure a
smooth transition from the hospital to the community. There should be a continued connection
between the patient, the facility, and the community for continues improvement. Australian
healthcare facilities should work with local governments to enhance these changes.

ADDRESSING SUICIDE RISKS AFTER PSYCHIATRIC DISCHARGE 3
References
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Suicide rates after discharge from psychiatric facilities: a systematic review and meta-
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ADDRESSING SUICIDE RISKS AFTER PSYCHIATRIC DISCHARGE 4
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