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Presuicide Attempt Communications Between Parasuicides and Consulted Caregivers
Author(s) -
Coombs David W.,
Miller Howard L.,
Alarcon Renato,
Herlihy Charles,
Lee James M.,
Morrison David P.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-278x.1992.tb00734.x
Subject(s) - psychiatry , health professionals , mental health , suicidal behavior , psychology , medicine , suicide prevention , clinical psychology , poison control , medical emergency , health care , economics , economic growth
A high percentage of parasuicides visit professional caregivers prior to the attempted suicide. The content or outcome of these consultations is unknown. We interviewed hospitalized attempters and the professional caregivers they identified as having been consulted prior to their attempts. About half of these patients directly disclosed suicidal symptoms or intentions, especially to mental health professionals. These professionals more often inquired about suicidal ideations than did nonpsychiatric physicians. However, few caregivers noted suicidal thinking or probed suicidal symptoms. The data suggest that professional caregivers and especially nonpsychiatric physicians should be more sensitive and responsive to the signs and symptoms of suicidality.