Oxford Health is one of the Trust’s participating in the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness (NCISH), which has recently been examining the causes of suicide in people below the age of 20.

The NCISH, a major study  led by the University of Manchester, has  now been running for 20 years: Oxford Health’s participation dates back to 1996, and the Trust has contributed significant data to the study.

NCISH uses this data to produces reports and papers which provide health professionals and policy makers with evidence and practical suggestions to reduce harm.

A new report published on 25th May 2016 analysed data from 2014-2015 to try and find the factors that contribute to the suicides of young people. The report found that factors such as exam stress played an important role in many suicides, but NCISH’s lead researcher Professor Louis Appleby pointed out, “There are often family problems such as drug misuse or domestic violence and more recent stresses such as bullying or bereavement, leading to a ‘final straw’ factor such as an exam or relationship breakdown.”