As mental health services have an important role in prevention of suicides, the relationship between Care Quality Commission performance ratings of mental health trusts and the local suicide rates were examined with the null hypothesis that there will be no relationship between them. Data on suicide rates for men and women aged 16–65 for each district covered by a mental health trust were ascertained from the Office of National Statistics for the year 2009. Data on performance ratings of mental health trusts for the same year were obtained from the Care Quality Commission Report.

There was no significant relationship between suicide rates in the districts covered by 60 mental health trusts in England and Wales and their performance ratings.

The negative findings suggest that the performance rating of mental health trusts do not influence local suicide rates.