Approximately three-quarters of patients who die by suicide on psychiatric wards do so by hanging/strangulation. Increased awareness of the methods used by these patients may benefit prevention strategies in mental health and high-risk disability facilities.
The aim of this training is to:
- Identify types of ligatures and ligature points.
- Recognise and describe the signs and symptoms of ligature injuries.
- Demonstrate the safe removal of ligatures using cutters.
- Demonstrate safe removal from suspension and incomplete suspension.
- Describe how to safely store, maintain, dispose and replace cutters.
- Explore anti-ligature devices
- Explore ligature risk assessments and environmental risk assessments or attempted
- Discuss First Aid actions following strangulation.
The best way to reduce the risk of ligature incidents is prevention.
Things to avoid include:
- Placing participants at risk of harm in areas where constant supervision would be a challenge.
- Avoid the patient having access to pendant lighting
- Avoid areas with electric sockets at chest height
Things to empower and reduce the risk include:
- Effective risk assessments
- Observe the policy for use of ligature cutters
- Effective Mental Health assessments
- Engage Mental Health services at the earliest practicable opportunity
- Seek advice if unsure and ask questions
- Engage and work with support services
What works well includes:
- Involve service users
- Assess ligature risk in small teams
- Be clear on accountabilities
- Location of clients (visible)
- Listen to research
- Focus on recovery
Price $120