In recent years A&E attendances for suicidal attempts have rocketed. It is now a daily occurrence to meet both children and adults in crisis needing our help. But are we prepared? Are we adequately trained? Are we ready to handle this new epidemic?

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) mandates that such training should be integrated into our induction. The importance of good training in managing mental presentations cannot be overstated. These cases are high risk. Death by suicide remains a significant and increasing problem facing young adults and teenagers both in the UK and across Europe. The ripples of suicide also travel far affecting large swathes of our communities.

Consider these cases to be important. Consider how (with trauma calls) we provide resource-intensive care for patients with comparable morbidity and mortality. Our mental health patients deserve nothing less than the same high-quality care provision. So what are our goals in A&E? In recognition of the need to raise standards, the RCEM outlines these goals as follows…