National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide

About the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide (NCISH)

As part of its core work the Inquiry examines suicide, and homicide committed by people who had been in contact with secondary and specialist mental health services in the previous 12 months. It also examines the deaths of psychiatric inpatients which were sudden and unexplained. Previous findings of the Inquiry have informed national mental health strategies, and continue to provide definitive figures for suicide and homicide related to mental health services in the UK.

In addition to its core work the Inquiry is also undertaking three interrelated and complementary projects. The first study will examine the contact with primary care services of those who later committed suicide. Only about a quarter of all people who die by suicide come into contact with secondary mental health services. Establishing the reasons why people contact their GP before they commit suicide will provide important information about risk factors associated with suicide in primary care.

National organisations such as NICE, the NPSA as well as the Inquiry itself have produced recommendations and guidelines aimed at improving outcomes and reducing suicide rates for patients with mental health illness. In the second study, the Inquiry will examine the impact of national mental health guidance on local suicide rates.

It has been shown that many suicides occur in people who have been deemed to be at low risk by the clinicians. In the third project, quality of the process of risk assessments will be further examined through retrospective case note review to understand why this is the case.

Latest Reports

• The 2011 Annual Report and other academic publications can be found on the NCISH website >>

Independent Advisory Group for the Mental Health Programme

As the commissioner for this programme on behalf of the funding bodies, HQIP will be guided by an Independent Advisory Group on topic selection for the programme as well as progress and programme outputs.

Note: As of 1 September 2011, HQIP is now responsible for the for the management and commissioning of the Clinical Outcome Review Programmes, previously the responsibility of the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA). Note: These programmes are also known as Confidential Enquiries.  All enquiries relating to the programme should now be addressed directly to HQIP Clinical Outcome Review Programmes Business Manager Jenny Mooney (formerly holder of the same role at NPSA) via jenny.mooney@hqip.org.uk or 020 7469 2500.