According to a new study, the measures to reduce the rates of suicides in England and Wales in the past one decade have been successful.

The study showed very little evidence that showed that the measures have succeeded. The researchers found that continuous community crisis teams resulted in 200-300 fewer deaths from suicide every year.

The Health authorities, which implemented recommendations to reduce suicide levels, have recorded a decrease in suicide rates between 1997 and 2006. The National Confidential Inquiry (NCI) had made recommendations in the 1990s into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness.

The recommendations included 24-hour crisis teams as well as plans for patients who do not accept treatment. It also recommended holding reviews after all suicides. All of these recommendations were not implemented and NHS mental health trusts introduced these measures at different times and saw decreased suicide rates.

Prof Nav Kapur, from the University of Manchester has said that there were 200 to 300 fewer suicides per year due to the implementation of the measures. The researchers agreed that other changes in society might be the reason for the reduction and it cannot be said that these measures resulted in the reduction in suicides.

The study was published in the Lancet.