Suicide and recency of health care contacts: A systematic review

Abstract

Background Many countries have set targets for suicide reduction, and suggested that mental health care providers and general practitioners have a key role to play. Method A systematic review of the literature. Results Among those in the general population who commit suicide, up to 41% may have contact with psychiatric inpatient care in the year prior to death and up to 9% may commit suicide within one day of discharge. The corresponding figures are II and 4% for community-based psychiatric care and 83 and 20% for general practitioners. Conclusions Among those who die by suicide, contact with health services is common before death. This is a necessary but not sufficient condition for clinici..