Self-harm and suicide statistics (FOI)

Request

A

I would like to see the statistics for suicides in Jersey from 2017 to whatever is the most recent date available.

B

I would like to know if causation is recorded, eg death by falling, drug overdose and so on. If that data isn't available I would like a reason as to why.

C

I would like to know the statistics on inpatient admissions and Emergency Department attendances at the general hospital for self-harm from 2017 to whatever is the most recent date available.

Response

A

Statistics on completed suicide in Jersey are published annually by Statistics Jersey in the Jersey Mortality report, available at the following link:

Jersey Mortality Statistics 

The most recent figures on suicides are currently for 2016, as the information on exact cause of death is generally only available following the completion of the inquest process.

B

Cause of death by suicide is recorded however we consider it to be qualified exempt information under Article 38 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011. Following a prejudice test, we consider the exemption covered by Article 38 to be engaged and, following a public interest test, we judge the public interest in disclosing the information is outweighed by the harm to individuals which would, or would be likely to result from its disclosure.

C

The table below shows all attendances at the Emergency Department (ED) where the patient's diagnosis category was recorded as attempted suicide or deliberate self-harm (DSH).

*In addition, some individuals had a diagnosis category of psychiatric, where the more detailed ED Diagnosis field showed that some self-harm had occurred (for example where the main concern was psychiatric, but lacerations or poisoning were also recorded).

This table includes attendances where the patient is subsequently admitted to an inpatient ward.

The numbers in this table use the same definition as published in the Mental Health Quality report which can be found at the following link:

Mental Health Quality report

The following table shows emergency inpatient admissions to an acute inpatient ward excluding Orchard House (see below) where the diagnosis includes an ICD-10 code from the range X60-X84, indicating attempted suicide or deliberate self-harm when associated with a classifiable injury; i.e. lacerations, bruising or intentional overdose etc. Admissions can only be assigned a code denoting intent when this has been clearly documented by the clinicians.

Patients may receive treatment in an acute inpatient ward and subsequently be discharged to Orchard House for ongoing mental health care. The figures in this response do not include occasions where a patient goes directly from the Emergency Department to Orchard House as mental health admissions are not clinically coded.

 **Due to the time required to complete the clinical coding process, the figure provided for 2018 admissions is provisional and subject to change.

Articles applied

Article 23 Information accessible to applicant by other means

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it is reasonably available to the applicant, otherwise than under this Law, whether or not free of charge.

(2) A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for information on this ground must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant where the applicant may obtain the information.

Article 38 Endangering the safety or health of individuals

Information is qualified exempt information if its disclosure would, or would be likely to –

(a) endanger the safety of an individual; or

(b) endanger the physical or mental health of an individual.