This study systematically investigated the pattern of all health care contacts both before & after attempted suicide. All consecutive 1,198 suicide attempters treated in hospital emergency rooms in Helsinki during a 12-month period were identified. The vast majority of subjects had contact with health care during the 12 months before & after the index attempt. However, half were without a treatment contact during the final 30 days before the index attempt & one-third in the 30-days following the attempt. Suicide attempters who were not referred to aftercare, did not suffer from a previously recognized major mental disorder, were male, or made non-violent attempts were less likely to be receiving treatment after the attempt. (24 refs.)