background Suffering from a psychiatric disorder is a well-known risk factor for suicide and suicidal behavior. Treatment of psychiatric disorders can reduce the risk of suicidal behavior and suicide. In the Netherlands, however, since 2012 the treatment costs of some psychiatric disorders have no longer been covered by health insurance.
aim To find out what proportion of suicides were committed by patients with a psychiatric disorder for which treatment costs are no longer covered by health insurance since the rules changed in 2012.
method We studied the files of 314 patients who were known to one of the large mental health hospitals in the Netherlands and who had committed suicide between 1 January 1999 and January 2012. We were able to determine the various psychiatric disorders from which the patients were suffering at the time they died.
results About 6% of the patients who committed suicide between 1999 and 2012 suffered from a psychiatric disorder for which treatment costs are now no longer covered by health insurance.
conclusion Given the results of this study, the increased rates of suicide in the Netherlands and the importance of scientific research into the characteristics of suicide, we recommend that patients with suicidal behavior are not excluded from adequate treatment in the event they may or may not have met the criteria for a dsm-iv classification