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Does Availability of Mental Health Resources Prevent Recurrent Suicidal Behavior? An Ecological Analysis
Author(s) -
Cooper Sara L.,
Lezotte Dennis,
Jacobellis Jillian,
DiGuiseppi Carolyn
Publication year - 2006
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 - 10.1521/suli.2006.36.4.409
Subject(s) - residence , mental health , suicidal behavior , environmental health , safety net , psychology , suicide prevention , psychiatry , medicine , poison control , demography , sociology
This study examines whether availability of mental health resources in the county of residence is associated with subsequent suicidal behavior after a previous suicide attempt. Among 10,922 individuals who attempted suicide in Colorado between 1998 and 2002, residence in a county that offered a minimum safety‐net of mental health services significantly reduced the risk of suicidal behavior for at least 1 year after the index attempt. Safety‐net services included mental health treatment, crisis treatment, and case management. These results suggest one strategy for prevention of suicidal behavior that could inform state‐level health policy development and resource allocation.