Deaths of Mental Health Patients a Hidden Scandal

As my mum's case continues to move slowly, I've decided to do some research into deaths of patients who suffer mental illness. The amount of research in this area is not very substantial - unsurprising given people with mental illness are so low down on the list of public priorities - but some of the clearest information is available in the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness. Whilst the report also covers so-called 'sudden deaths' its interesting to find that this is not noted on the report's title page.

Shocking statistics uncovered by the government-sponsored research include:

• There are 41 'unexplained deaths' per year on average in British mental hospitals, many of which are put down to pre-existing conditions such as cardiopulmonary disease. Treatment for elderly and vulnerable patients in these situations is marked out as being inadequate and requiring action for improvement. Of these deaths 85% had occurred on in-patient wards and 28% occurred when the patient had been detained under the powers of the Mental Health Act.



• 1,300 people with mental illnesses commit suicide on average every year having had contact with mental health services within three months prior to their deaths. 233 suicides per year were identified as preventable.

The sheer scale of these deaths is shocking it itself, yet the recommendations of the report seem to fall well short of sugegsting any form of public inquiry, especially into deaths which are known to have been preventable. Yet families and friends of deceased mental health patients do not have the protections of broad investigations in the way that families of those who have died in prison.

One preventable death a year is bad enough - these figures seem to suggest a national scandal

And, to add insult to injury, deaths of mental health patients are not treated any differently to anyone elses, despite the fact that mental health service often have a significant impact on these people. Surely there is something very wrong in a country which does not properly investigate the deaths of some of the most vulnerable members of our society. My family and I will continue to fight on in the face of this scandal in our country's mental health institutions and fight for change.

Thank you for your continued support.

Kind wishes,
Steven Allen