Suicide card support scheme
The Card Before You Leave scheme, will mean that any patient being discharged from an inpatient, or from A&E, who needs future care from mental health teams, will now receive a card prior to discharge, giving details of contact numbers for support, and details of their follow-up care.
The scheme, which was initially launched in Australia, has been introduced into all hospitals in the Northern Trust. The scheme ensures that all those who attend A&E and express thoughts of self-harm or suicide or those patients discharged who require ongoing care from mental health teams, have the contact numbers, which will give them the level of support they need.