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Suicide
Almost half of suicides in community mental health services were not investigated
A HSE report found that some of the investigations that did take place were “informal”.
ALMOST HALF OF all suspected suicides in community mental health services were not investigated or reviewed, according to a highly critical HSE audit.
The report, obtained by the Medical Independent, found that some of the investigations that did take place were “informal”.
Out of 21 deaths where the circumstances suggested that the person involved had taken their own life, ten were not investigated or reviewed by the service involved.
The audit covered all sudden, unexplained deaths of people attending a day hospital, day centre, or living in a 24-hour staffed community residence, and was carried out by the HSE Quality and Patient Safety Directorate.
The report found that only five out of the audited 21 deaths were notified in accordance with legislative requirements and HSE procedures.
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