Suicide involves an act of volition on the part of the deceased, making it unlike deaths from physical disorders such as cancer or stroke. The latter occur passively and often despite the efforts of the patient to stay alive. Yet when there is a suicide, clinicians involved may often be blamed and families may often feel guilt. This contrasts with the default response of praise and thanks to clinicians following treatment preceding deaths from physical disorders.

Comparative standardized mortality rate (SMR) data are analyzed to demonstrate the impact of developments in care over the past two decades in the United Kingdom (UK), and similar United States (USA) SMR data are noted. The evidence is reviewed regarding our ability to predict who will die by suicide, when and where to target intervention, and practical and effective prevention methods.

Data from the UK are presented that reflects the relative lack of impact of prevention efforts on suicide mortality rates when compared to the reductions seen in various physical disorders. This narrative review comments on the causes and consequences of this difference.

The challenge for psychiatry is that SMR data suggest that we have been unable to significantly reduce suicide SMR unlike that for physical disorders. This needs to be fully acknowledged and the biased assumption of blame needs to stop. The focus needs to be on evidence-based interventions that do work, such as medications, psychological treatments, psychological interventions, and suicide prevention research.