Who Calls the Suicide Prevention Centre: a Study of 55 Persons Calling on Their own Behalf

The authors report their experience with a suicide prevention center. Most people calling the center on their own behalf were psychiatrically ill; 2/3 chronically so. 4/5 of the callers had had previous professional attention. Over half had made previous suicide attempts. Depressed mood was the most common motive for calling while acute interpersonal crises were surprisingly rare. Although the callers were predominantly younger women, a substantial number appeared to present significant risk.