Study: Less than 1 in 10 U.S. hospitals follow all recommended suicide-prevention practices

A new study found that only 8% of hospitals in the U.S. have instituted all the key components of evidence-based, best-practice interventions to help at-risk patients who are discharged after receiving care (Source: “Few Hospitals Follow Recommended Practices for Evidence-Based Suicide Care,” Pew Charitable Trusts, March 12).

In fact, more than 1 in 4 hospitals are not conducting any of these interventions, accord to the study by the Joint Commission, an independent national organization that accredits U.S. hospitals.

The Joint Commission requires its nearly 3,800 facilities — about 80% of all hospitals and behavioral health care organizations — to have discharge policies and protocols for counseling and follow-up care in place for individuals identified as being at risk for suicide. The specific policies and protocols adopted to meet these requirements, however, are left to the hospitals’ discretion.

In 2022, suicide claimed the lives of an estimated 49,449 people in the United States, making it the 11th leading cause of death nationwide. Research has shown that almost half of those who die by suicide interact with the health care system within four weeks of their deaths. And those who are hospitalized for suicide risk face an elevated risk of dying by suicide post-discharge, making this a critical time for these patients to have access to resources, support, and care that can keep them safe in the event of a suicidal crisis.