Five high-risk factors for inpatient suicide

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for inpatient suicide in a general hospital. Thirty suicide victims were drawn from the adverse event reports of suicidal acts during hospitalization in a general hospital from 2008 to 2014. Data were gathered from a focus group. Interview of 6 medical staff who had experienced inpatient suicide. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyze the data. Five main themes regarding high risk factors for inpatient suicide emerged from this study: mental disorders, diseases, and the source of money to meet medical expenses, social support, and the hospital environment. Patients with mental disorders were at a high risk of suicide. Having a serious disease, paying high medical expenses alone, the loss of social support and unsafe hospital environments were also associated with an increased risk of suicide. This study puts forward different perspectives on the reasons that inpatients commit suicide and corresponding preventive measures based on these 5 main themes that could be implemented to avoid or reduce suicidal acts among inpatients during hospitalization.