It is ironic that the only way to maintain a mental health service (both in the community and in prisons) that did not have to bear this risk would be if we stopped offering help to depressed and at-risk people. Some NHS trusts have decided to do just that, to avoid dealing with the difficult legal and social outcomes of having a suicide on their books. This means that when someone is most in need of treatment or a listening ear, they may not be able to access it. The result is achingly predictable.
