The Role of General Practitioners in Youth Parasuicide: a Western Australia Perspective

This study examined the role of general practice in 194 parasuicide patients presenting to a Perth general hospital by surveying their physicians. Data represented 75% of possible subjects over the study period. 67.6% of patients had seen their doctor in the prior month, 35% in the week before. Results of the study confirm that young people consult physicians prior to their suicidal behaviour; however there may be an under-recognition of psychiatric symptomatology in general practice settings.