Citation

Coombs DW, Miller HL, Alarcon R, Herlihy C, Lee JM, Morrison DP. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 1992; 22(3): 289-302.

Affiliation

Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, American Association of Suicidology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

1440743

Abstract

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.