Real-Time Suicide Surveillance: Comparison of International Surveillance Systems and Recommended Best Practice

Benson, Ruth; Rigby, Jan; Brunsdon, Chris; Corcoran, Paul; Dodd, Philip; Ryan, Mary; Cassidy, Eugene; Colchester, David; Hawton, Keith; Lascelles, Karen; Leo, Diego De; Crompton, David; Kõlves, Kairi; Leske, Stuart; Dwyer, Jeremy; Pirkis, Jane; Shave, R.; Fortune, Sarah; Arensman, Ella

doi:10.1080/13811118.2022.2131489

Cited by 6 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…However, only 18% of countries have an electronic registry for suicide [24]. Having an active and flexible surveillance system enables us to easily design and implement suicide prevention programs and interventions in the context of the community [47,48]. It seems that PHC could be an appropriate setting for developing and implementing SPS, given that PHC health services are the most readily available means of healthcare which are accessible and with high rates of regular and numerous healthcare providers in primary care can provide a visible character for reducing the suicide rate [7,10,49].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effective suicide prevention strategies in primary healthcare settings: a systematic review

Azizi

Esmaeili

Khodamoradi

et al. 2022

Middle East Curr Psychiatry

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Background There is a fundamental need for health systems, health managers, and policymakers to identify effective components of suicide prevention strategies (SPS) and programs in primary healthcare (PHC) settings. Accordingly, this systematic review aimed to identify and summarize effective and significant evidence on suicide prevention in PHC setting. We systematically searched the published literature in English from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, PsychoINFO, and Embase up to 31 July 2022. The study searched all records reporting effective and significant strategies and programs on suicide prevention in PHC settings. A content analysis approach was carried out to extract major components of suicide prevention strategies in PHC settings. Results A total of 10 records (8 original articles and 2 reports) with 1,199,986 samples were included. In all the included articles, SPS decreased suicide rates. The majority of studies were conducted among the general population. The content analysis approach emerged five major components to SPS in PHC setting: (1) training and educating healthcare providers, (2) screening and suicide risk assessment, (3) managing depression symptoms and mental disorders, (4) managing suicide attempters and at-risk cases, and (5) prevention strategies at the general population. Conclusions This review provided reliable evidence for health systems to develop SPS in PHC and practitioners who are eager to provide brief and effective contact interventions for suicide risk to well-serve their patients.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effective suicide prevention strategies in primary healthcare settings: a systematic review

Azizi

Esmaeili

Khodamoradi

et al. 2022

Middle East Curr Psychiatry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The data collected cannot therefore be subsequently traced back to specific individuals in order to supplement the information with data from other sources. This also prevents subsequent review and validation of individual cases after coronial inquest, which can improve data quality, completeness and sensitivity 3. It may be that in the future the advantages of data linkage may outweigh data protection concerns.…”

Section: Insights Opportunities and Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Whoever is responsible for the system long term, the main priority must be to share timely and accurate data on a regular, need-to-know basis to inform rapid prevention initiatives at national and local levels. Automated notification processes for new trends and emerging clusters are also recommended best practice 3. Currently, the aggregated data are only accessible to authorised BTP staff, and used by them to contribute to national and local reviews relevant to suicide prevention.…”

Section: Ethical Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Timely monitoring of suicides is becoming a key component of suicide prevention programmes in many countries. [1][2][3] Official suicide statistics are often subject to a considerable time-lag. This is due to substantial delays before coroners' inquests are completed (which can frequently be a year or more following a death) and also the time taken for registration of deaths and reporting of suicide statistics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Timely monitoring of suicides is becoming a key component of suicide prevention programmes in many countries 1–3. Official suicide statistics are often subject to a considerable time-lag.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Police-led real-time surveillance system for suspected suicides in Great Britain

et al. 2023

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It has become increasingly apparent that rapidly available information about the occurrence of suicides is needed, particularly to support suicide prevention efforts. Concerns about the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerability to suicide highlighted the need for such early data internationally. Here, we set out the nature, current status and content of a real-time suicide monitoring system in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), and explore its potential to contribute to timely and targeted suicide prevention initiatives. We also discuss the challenges to successful implementation.

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Can real-time surveillance systems of suspected suicide accurately reflect national suicide rates? Age-specific and sex-specific findings from the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic in England: an observational study

Turnbull,

Ibrahim,

Tham

et al. 2024

bmjph

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Introduction‘Real-time surveillance’ (RTS) systems of suspected suicide showed no overall rise in the early COVID-19 pandemic several months before official statistics reported the same. There has to date been no national examination of suicide recorded by RTS systems by sex or age group during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsWe used data from established RTS systems of suspected suicides in England, in 10 areas covering a total population ~13 million, to examine overall suicide numbers and rates from the pre-pandemic months of January–March 2020, to the end of 2021, by sex and by age group, through different phases of the pandemic.ResultsFrom January 2020 to December 2021, there were 2923 suspected suicides recorded by RTS systems in the 10 areas providing data. Using the pre-pandemic period as the baseline, we found a lower rate of suicide in the remainder of 2020 compared with the pre-pandemic period (0.80–0.99). This fall reflected lower numbers of deaths in men aged 25–44 between April and December 2020. Though there was no significant fall in 2021, there were lower rates in people aged 45–64 during this time. A month-by-month breakdown showed no change during periods of lockdown or social restrictions.ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate the viability of RTS to provide timely information on suicide rates at a national level and were later confirmed by official statistics. While suicide rates have not increased, continued vigilance is needed given ongoing effects of the pandemic in the context of current economic pressures. Early data on suspected suicides collected by local systems can be instrumental in reflecting national trends, and in aiding a rapid response in times of crisis.

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Real-Time Suicide Surveillance: Comparison of International Surveillance Systems and Recommended Best Practice

Cited by 6 publications

References 24 publications

Effective suicide prevention strategies in primary healthcare settings: a systematic review

Effective suicide prevention strategies in primary healthcare settings: a systematic review

Police-led real-time surveillance system for suspected suicides in Great Britain

Can real-time surveillance systems of suspected suicide accurately reflect national suicide rates? Age-specific and sex-specific findings from the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic in England: an observational study

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