The Role of Mental Health in Police-Reported Suicides

Abstract

Suicide is recognized as a nation-wide lethal tragedy with more than 33,000 reported deaths and about 400,000 self-inflicted injuries treated annually in the United States. Using Hostage Barricade Data System cases, this study examined the prevalence of mental health treatment histories in subjects who attempt or complete suicides that come to the attention of law enforcement, individual and incident characteristics significantly related to the suicidal subjects’ known mental illness treatment, and the significance of known mental illness treatment as suicide attempts/completions outcomes. The strong relationship between mental illness treatment and outcomes for police-reported suicidal subjects has important policy implications that are discussed.