Highlights of this issue

ABSTRACT

Combining data from 12 UK population studies, they found that people with poor pre-pandemic mental health experienced greater overall disruption to their lives across multiple domains, but specifically greater likelihood of economic and healthcare disruptions. Prior research demonstrating that clinician questions about suicidal behaviour don't increase the risk of such behaviour has been reassuring and influential for conducting safe and good-quality risk assessments. Using data from The Netherlands and Belgium, where psychiatric euthanasia and/or medically assisted suicide (EAS) is permitted, they critically examine the difference between EAS and suicide – arguing that the characterisation of suicide as impulsive or violent is not necessarily an accurate or sufficient distinction from the apparently calm ‘death wish’ of EAS.