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Help-seeking behaviour in elderly suicides

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

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

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