A new policy brief has been released in response to research into the risk of suicide and homicide-suicide in unpaid carers. 
The University of Exeter has published a policy brief after a scoping review of 45 international studies identified unpaid carers as a high-risk group for suicide, with many carers thinking, making plans for, and attempting suicide.
The research, led by Dr Siobhan O’Dwyer, senior lecturer at the university’s medical school, also found that for some carers, suicidal thoughts are accompanied by thoughts of killing the person for whom they care and deaths by homicide-suicide have been reported.
The review called for an “urgent need to identify and support at-risk carers” and provides a suggested plan of action for health and social care, including creating safe spaces for carers, training relevant professionals to support at-risk carers and routinely assessing for suicide and homicide risk.
West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership has a programme of support for the estimated 400,000 unpaid carers living across Bradfrod District and Craven, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield District, to provide the help they need to both manage their caring role and remain in work or education.