Circumstances of suicide after registration with a national digital mental health service: an analysis of coroners’ reports

• DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2023.60
• Publication Date: 2023-05-24T08:23:51Z
• Authors: Olav Nielssen; Lauren Staples; Eyal Karin; Katie Ryan; Rony Kayrouz; Blake Dear; Shane Cross; Nickolai Titov
• Keywords: Suicide methods; National Death Index

Little is known about the safety of mental healthcare provided remotely by digital health services (DMHS), which do not offer face-to-face contact.To examine circumstances suicide patients registered with a national DMHS.Data from 59 033 consenting DMHS, MindSpot Clinic, between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2016 were linked Australian National Death Index documents held Coronial Information System (NCIS). Data extracted included demographic information, nature contact, duration last contact death, symptom scores information in police, autopsy, toxicology coroners' reports.Of patients, 90 (0.15%) died follow-up period up to 5 years. The mean time death was 560 days. Coroners' reports located for 81/90 patients. Most (87.0%) receiving care around 60.9% had documented previous attempt, 52.2% been hospital 6 months 22.2% severe illness, mainly schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Other common findings current treatment psychotropic medication (79.2%) presence alcohol (41.6%), benzodiazepines (31.2%), illegal drugs non-prescribed opioids (20.8%) at death.Those who after DMHS more mostly engaged often disinhibiting substances, especially benzodiazepines, present death.