The Response of Healthcare Services to People at Risk of Suicide: a Qualitative Study

Family & close friends of 15 young people who lived in Sydney prior to their suicide, between 1990-95, were interviewed to elicit their perceptions of the healthcare support given to these individuals prior to their death. Participants claimed that they believed there were inadequate supports in place, that information & education were uncoordinated & sparse, & that healthcare workers were not effective in preventing suicide attempts because they lacked adequate diagnostic & management skills & displayed poor attitudes towards suicidal people. (41 refs)