Delivering safer services: can suicide and homicide among people in contact with mental health services be predicted?

Enquiries into incidents of violent deaths involving people in contact with mental health services have reinforced the view that such incidents can be predicted and prevented. However, concerns have been expressed that predicting those who will be involved in such incidents is impractical in clinical practice. Findings from studies that have attempted to develop methods for identifying those at greatest risk of violence are reviewed and the implications of the findings for efforts to develop safer mental health services are considered.