10 September has been designated as World Suicide Prevention Day every year, by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
A Global Mental Health Crisis
The global statistics for death by suicide are shocking. According to the WHO website there are over 700,000 deaths each year as a result of suicide. The reasons behind the statistics are of course highly complex and will vary depending on where in the world people live. However it is clear that mental health issues and mental illness play a very significant part. WHO’s goal over the next three years (2024 – 2026) is to encourage open conversations and to reduce the stigma around mental health with the long-term aim of preventing death by suicide. The challenge is to “Change the Narrative” on suicide.
The UK is not immune to these issues. Recent figures released by the Office for National Statistics showed that over 6,060 suicides were registered in the England and Wales in 2023, an increase of more than 400 since 2022 and the highest number since 1999. Men are most at risk, making up three quarters of those deaths, but the female suicide rate reached its highest level since 1994.
In addition, there are multiple admissions to major trauma units each year involving individuals who have attempted suicide and survived with life-changing injuries. The loss of a loved one to suicide is absolutely devastating and family members often ask whether something more could and should have been done to help to prevent it. Similarly, when someone has sustained serious injury through a suicide attempt, questions are asked as to whether more help could have been given before the individual reached that point.
Lampard Inquiry – understanding the issues in in-patient mental health care
The Lampard Inquiry, which is investigating mental health care deaths in Essex, was opened on 9 September 2024, on the eve of World Suicide Prevention Day. The Inquiry is being led by Baroness Kate Lampard. It is tasked with looking into the circumstances surrounding what is anticipated to be “significantly in excess of 2,000 deaths” between 2000 and 2023, of patients who were either inpatients of NHS funded inpatient clinics in Essex, or died within three months of leaving their care.
It is intended that the Inquiry will make recommendations to improve the provision of mental health inpatient care.
Mental illness is a really significant issue within our society. First and foremost, it has a psychological and emotional toll on everyone affected. However, it also has far wider implications.
Negligence claims concerning suicide and attempted suicide
It is common knowledge that mental health services provided by the NHS in England and Wales face significant funding and staffing challenges. However, when people are at their lowest, and are desperate and calling out for help, an appropriate standard of care and support should be available.
I have very sadly been involved with many cases over my 20+ years of practice as a clinical negligence solicitor, that concern death by suicide of a loved family member, or significant injuries suffered following a suicide attempt. My involvement has come about because the individual concerned was under the care of either acute or community mental health services at the time, and concerns have been raised about the standard of mental health support provided.
These are emotive cases to run, and they stay with you long after settlement. One in particular, is a case where my colleague, Kerry Blomerus and I, acted for the family of a man who was let down by his mental health services, which led to his suicide. The expert evidence we obtained showed that had he received appropriate treatment, he would have recovered. He would have been able to provide for his family financially, practically, and emotionally. His children had additional needs, which would in other circumstances, have been met by him and his wife. Following his death, his wife had to deal not only with her grief and that of her children, but also had to completely change her work and childcare arrangements to look to the future without her husband. The financial implications on the family were significant. The NHS trust admitted that failings in their mental health care services caused the death, and a settlement was reached which will allow the family to rebuild their lives. However, the emotional loss cannot be healed.
I also acted for a gentleman who tried to take his own life whilst under the care of community mental health services. He suffered devastating injuries and was left paraplegic, requiring lifelong care and adapted accommodation. Again, a financial settlement was reached, which will ensure that he can pay for the care and equipment that he needs, but his life, and that of his family, has changed indelibly.
Colleagues have acted for families bereaved by suicide and for individuals who have been left with brain or spinal injuries or required multiple amputations following suicide attempts. Our enquiries into the care that they received from mental health services, have shown that with appropriate care, these injuries could, and should, have been avoided.
Whilst we have been able to successfully recover substantial sums of compensation for these clients and their families, without exception, they would all have preferred that the mental health care provision had been better, and these consequences avoided.
The recognition of the importance of mental wellbeing is improving in general society. In September 2018, the NHS published a review to try to learn from suicide related claims and positive steps have been taken by many NHS trusts to try to improve mental health provision. However, there are still instances when the standard of mental health care that is provided by the NHS, falls below an acceptable standard. I very much hope that the awareness generated by events such as World Suicide Prevention Day, improves the importance given to mental health services and to the standard of NHS mental health provision overall.
How can we help?
If you or a loved one have suffered because of negligent mental health care, a member of our specialist team will be happy to have a free, confidential discussion with you to explore ways we may be able to help you. Negligent care in mental health settings can manifest in various ways, including:
- Failure to offer and provide inpatient mental health care: Sometimes when in mental health crisis, patients need proper inpatient care for their own safety.
- Failure to provide adequate mental health support in the community and to deliver an appropriate treatment plan.
- Unsafe environments: Inadequate staffing levels or insufficient safety measures can create hazardous conditions for patients.
- Excessive force: Using excessive force to restrain or detain patients, even in situations where it may seem necessary, can constitute negligence.
- Physical or psychological abuse or neglect: Mental health inpatients are extremely vulnerable to abuse or neglect. Although thankfully rare, this can happen.
- Medication errors: Mistakes with medication dosages or administration can have severe consequences for patients’ health.
- Premature discharge: Releasing vulnerable patients too early can put them at risk of further harm or deterioration.
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