Emergency departments have a role in the prevention of suicide

Authors: Salter, A.; Pielage, P.

Source: Emergency Medicine, Volume 12, Number 3, 1 September 2000 , pp. 198-203(6)

Buy & download fulltext article:

The full text article is temporarily unavailable.

We apologise for the inconvenience. Please try again later.

Abstract:

Objectives: The aims of the study were to determine whether emergency departments in Tasmania were managing patients at risk of suicide adequately, and to identify factors that may help to prevent suicide in patients who present to an emergency department.

Method: Retrospective review of case notes of patients who had presented to Tasmanian public hospitals and were on a Coroner's list as having committed suicide in Tasmania 1995–1997 (n = 196).

Results: This descriptive analysis of a population showed 58.7% had presented to an emergency department. Psychiatric problems were common. On the last emergency department presentation prior to death, 36.5% were admitted, with 95% of these having an admission for drug and alcohol or psychiatric problems.

Conclusions: The majority of patients seen prior to death with suicide risk were correctly identified by emergency department staff and appropriately referred. Single-vehicle motor vehicle accident victims and patients who present on multiple occasions with psychiatric or drug and alcohol problems are at risk.

Keywords: multiple presentations; risk factors; single-vehicle motor vehicle accidents; suicide

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2000-09-01