Risk factors for mortality due to natural causes and suicide among people with severe mental illness in western China

•Compared to the studies of most high-income country, the mortality due to natural causes and suicide among people with severe mental illness in western China were much higher.•Risk factors were not shared across natural deaths and suicide among people with severe mental illness in western China. Risk management and interventions for people with SMI should be tailored for specific causes of death.•To reduce natural deaths, we should pay more attention to the SMI patiets who lack care and treatment, especially the poor elderly. For the prevention of suicide, more concern should be given to the highly educated SMI patiets, especially those who have attempted suicide.