Mental Health Services Use among People that Attempt Suicide by Taking a Drug Overdose during the Last Year before their Suicide Commission

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Suicide victims frequently have had contact with the mental health services before they died. In this study, the rate of mental health care system contact during the last year before suicide commission was evaluat- ed. METHODS: Utilization of mental health care facilities during the last 12 months of 231 individuals who commit- ted suicide was assessed by the questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the suicide victims, 62% had been used mental health services at least once. The mean age of the patients was 29.7 years (SD = 4/11). There wasn’t Significant difference in age between men and women who had used mental health services (P = 0.077). There was a significant rela- tionship between the two groups using and not using of mental health services and suicide more than once (P = 0.008). There was also a significant relationship between psychiatric illness and mental health services. (P
<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Increasing utilization of mental health care facilities should be considered a particularly profound suicide risk assessment and post discharge treatment planning. Continued and more serious follow-up of these patients with strategies such as social workers or through methods such as telemedicine (Continuous and right communication through phone, email, etc.) is necessary to prevent from their suicide.