The failure of suicide prevention in primary care: family and GP perspectives – a qualitative study

BMC Psychiatry

Research Article

Sharon Mallon¹  Karen Galway²  Michael Rosato³  Lynette Hughes³  Janeet Rondon-Sulbaran³  Gerard Leavey³ 

[1] Faculty of Health and Social Care, Horlock Building, Open University, MK7 6AA, Milton Keynes, UK;School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen’s University Belfast, Medical Biology Building, 97 Lisburn Road, BT 9 7BL, Belfast, UK;The Bamford Centre for Mental Health & Wellbeing, Department of Psychology, Ulster University, Cromore Road, BT52 1SA, Coleraine, UK;

关键词: Suicide;    Prevention;    Families;    Primary care;    Psychiatric services;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12888-017-1508-7

 received in 2017-03-21, accepted in 2017-10-12,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundAlthough Primary care is crucial for suicide prevention, clinicians tend to report completed suicides in their care as non-preventable. We aimed to examine systemic inadequacies in suicide prevention from the perspectives of bereaved family members and GPs.MethodsQualitative study of 72 relatives or close friends bereaved by suicide and 19 General Practitioners who have experienced the suicide of patients.ResultsRelatives highlight failures in detecting symptoms and behavioral changes and the inability of GPs to understand the needs of patients and their social contexts. A perceived overreliance on anti-depressant treatment is a major source of criticism by family members. GPs tend to lack confidence in the recognition and management of suicidal patients, and report structural inadequacies in service provision.ConclusionsMental health and primary care services must find innovative and ethical ways to involve families in the decision-making process for patients at risk of suicide.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017