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Help-seeking behaviour in elderly suicides

Authoring team

Elderly patients who go on to suicide are likely to have had recent contact with a healthcare professional:

  • 90% had seen their GP in the preceding 3 months
  • 50% had seen their GP in the preceding week
  • 20% had seen a psychiatrist in the preceding 6 months

Although patients see their doctors they often do not discuss suicide - only 21% of patients seeing their GP on the day of suicide actually mentioned their intention.

Reference:

  1. Isometsa, ET, Heikkinen, ME. et al. (1995). The last appointment before suicide: is suicide intent communicated? Am J Psychiatr, 152, 919-22.

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