Low profile anti-ligature latch handle for sliding doors

A door handle system comprising:

• a door handle having a front surface facing away from a door and having a back surface facing toward the door, the door handle comprising:
• a lower grip portion;
• an upper actuation portion;
• a protrusion located on the upper actuation portion, the protrusion extending closer to the door than the back surface;
• and
• a handle attaching structure, and
• a door plate comprising:
• an attaching structure configured to allow the door plate to attach to the door;
• a door plate attaching structure for interfacing with the handle attaching structure for allowing the door handle to pivotally attach to the door plate wherein both the door handle and the door plate are pivotally attached to each other via the handle attaching structure and the door plate attaching structure and the handle attaching structure and the door plate attaching structure are covered by the door handle and the door plate;
• a front face;
• and
• snag free smooth surfaces located on the door handle and the door plate wherein, the smooth surfaces on the door plate and the door handle are configured to direct a ligature that contacts the door handle system away from the door handle and away from a space between the door handle and the door plate.

A method of keeping elongated members from being retained by a door handle system comprising:

• providing snag free smooth surfaces located on a door handle, the door handle having a front surface facing away from a door and having a back surface facing toward the door;
• providing snag free smooth surfaces on a door plate;
• covering a space between the door handle and door plate with a protrusion on the door handle extending toward the door plate, the protrusion extending closer to the door than the back surface;
• and
• defining a handle protrusion channel in the door plate to allow the protrusion on the door handle to move within the door plate when the door handle pivots with respect to the door plate,
• wherein, the smooth surfaces on the door handle and door plate and protrusion on the door handle are configured to direct elongated members that contact the door handle system away from the door handle and away from a space between the door handle and the door plate.