A CLUSTER OF SUICIDES AT A LONDON PSYCHIATRIC UNIT

In an epidemiologically based study, a spate of 14 suicides among curr ent patients of a London psychiatric unit was investigated. Statistica l analysis showed it to be a discrete cluster of suicides, rather than a chance occurrence. There was no evidence of direct linkage or ''con tagion'' between the suicides. Thirteen of the patients suffered from severe, chronic mental illness and all but 2 had been known to the psy chiatric unit for at least a year. Twelve used violent methods, in 8 c ases jumping from a high place. Although no definite cause for the clu ster could be established, it coincided with a period of uncertainty c oncerning the future of the hospital and with changes in and absenteei sm of senior medical staff.