By the Numbers - Sept. 28, 2015

By the Numbers - Sept. 28, 2015

20%

The approximate percentage of U.S. mental health facilities that do not offer "suicide prevention services or outcome follow-up after discharge," according to a new article in the journal Psychiatric Services -- Characteristics of U.S. Mental Health Facilities That Offer Suicide Prevention Services.

The researchers examined data from 8,459 U.S. mental health facilities that participated in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Mental Health Services Survey (N-MHSS): 2010 (PDF). They found that about 1/3 of these facilities provided both suicide prevention and follow-up services, "25% offered suicide prevention services only, and 21% offered only outcome follow-up after discharge." According to the researchers:

Facilities that offered neither service were less likely than facilities that offered either to offer comprehensive support services or special programs for veterans; to offer substance abuse services; and to be accredited, licensed, or certified.