Dr. Maxine Lewis, Chief of Psychiatry at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton

On November 30, the Globe and Mail published a story about a new surveillance tool tracking suicides in Great Britain. With rates of suicides increasing worldwide, experts believe tracking deaths by suicide, something not accurately monitored in Canada, could provide better treatment for those at high risk.  

Dr. Maxine Lewis, St. Joe's Chief of Psychiatry, penned a letter to the news outlet in response to the article, emphasizing the need for data on suicides in Canada and an Ontario-wide suicide fatality review committee. As a leader in mental health care, St. Joe’s treats many patients struggling with thoughts of suicide. Read the response below.  

If you, or someone you know, are struggling with thoughts of suicide, help is available.  

Tracking suicides 

Re “As Britain launches suicide surveillance tool, Canada pressed to adopt similar measures” (Nov. 30): As leaders in mental health and addictions care, we support the adoption of a national system to accurately track suicides. Our Mental Health Partners group in Ontario has written to provincial Solicitor-General Michael Kerzner to request the establishment of a suicide fatality review committee for Ontario. 

Despite the many preventative measures that have been undertaken, the number of people who die by suicide each year has not changed significantly. As a result of the lack of an overarching body that collects data on presumed deaths by suicide, hospitals are unable to access and review meaningful information that could potentially help us improve the care for those persons at risk of suicide through shared learning. 

While we commit to beginning to share such information among ourselves as a coalition of hospitals with specialized mental health and addiction services, we welcome the infrastructure to support a broader scope. 

Maxine Lewis MD, chief of psychiatry, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, on behalf of the Mental Health Partners*; Toronto 

*Mental Health Partners is comprised of partner hospitals in Ontario: 

• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health 
• North Bay Regional Health Centre  
• Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences 
• Providence Care 
• Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre 
• St. Joseph’s Care Group  
• St. Joseph’s Health Care London  
• St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton  
• Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care