Citation

Ballard ED, Pao M, Horowitz L, Lee LM, Henderson DK, Rosenstein DL. Psychosomatics 2008; 49(6): 461-469.

Affiliation

National Institute of Mental Health, Clinical Research Center, Building 10, Room 6-5340, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1176/appi.psy.49.6.461

PMID

19122122

PMCID

PMC2857997

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A suicide can be a devastating event in the hospital, and few guidelines exist to aid an institution's response. METHOD: The authors describe a framework of immediate, short-term and long-term responses in the event of an in-hospital suicide. CONCLUSION: Implications for administration, communication, assessment, physical environment, and standards of care throughout the hospital are discussed that are relevant to both general-medical and psychiatric settings. Suggestions for the successful management of the aftermath of a suicide, such as the formation of a multidisciplinary leadership team, are included.

Language: en