Suicide by jumping from a height in a university hospital: Two cases

Abstract

Suicide among inpatients can be devastating for other patients and hospital staff. Studies show that cases of inpatient suicides in general hospitals receive less attention than inpatient suicides in psychiatric hospitals. Studies on cases of inpatient suicide in general hospitals are usually in the form of case reports or case series, and potential suicide risk factors are unknown. Many significant differences are reported between inpatient suicides in general hospitals and inpatient suicides in psychiatry clinics. Here we report two cases of completed suicide after jumping from a height while receiving inpatient treatment at a University Hospital. As serious physical illnesses are frequently accompanied by psychiatric disorders that increase suicide risk, measures should be taken to prevent inpatient suicides in hospitals admitting patients with physical illnesses. Hospitals should keep regular records about inpatients who attempt or commit suicide during their treatment in the hospital or during treatment breaks, because this would provide valuable data to examine and prevent cases of inpatient suicide.