Labour says lower suicide numbers are credit to SCDHB

‘‘Lower than average’’ figures for suspected suicides show the South Canterbury District Health Board (SCDHB) is managing its mental health services better than some other DHBs, Labour’s Health spokesman says.

There were three suspected suicides among people under the care of SCDHB mental health services since 2012.

David Clark recently claimed the number of suspected suicides across the country, among those under the care of mental health services, showed the sector was under ‘‘severe stress’’.

‘‘If you do the sums for patients absent without leave, on approved leave and in-patients, the total for suspected suicides in DHB care rises to a worrying 535 deaths.’’

Clarke said in the 2012/2013 financial year there were 121 suspected suicides among those in the care of mental health services, and 142 by 2016.

However the figures were a ‘‘credit’’ to the DHB’s handling of mental health, Clark said.

‘‘It seems lower than average. I would say that on the surface it appears that the DHB is managing the mental health issues better than some other DHB’s.

‘‘That may be down to the better per capita funding under the health funding formula, because some other DHBs are struggling with the funding restrictions.

‘‘If things are as they appear that should also be taken as a credit to the local providers.’’

SCDHB chief executive Nigel Trainor said between 2012/13 and 2015/16 three patients admitted to mental health care were suspected to have died from suicide, out of 5580 mental health admissions over that period.

All three suspected suicides had been in 2014/15 financial year, when there were 1406 SCDHB mental health admissions.

Figures from Coronial Services show there were 23 suicides in total in South Canterbury between 2012/2013 and 2015/2016.

‘‘We have reviewed our policies and processes to ensure that we do our utmost to address all risk with all clients’’ Trainor said.

‘‘We have a suicide prevention coordinator and a Suicide Prevention Advisory Committee ... to ensure that the Suicide Prevention Plan is progressing.’’

He said since 2012, the range of mental health services was ‘‘largely unchanged’’.