The Attitudes of Emergency Staff Toward Attempted Suicide Patients. A Comparative Study Before and After Establishment of a Psychiatric Consultation Service

This study compared the attitudes of Finnish emergency room staff in a general hospital toward patients who had attempted suicide before & after establishment of a psychiatric consultation service. Attitudes were measured on the Understanding Suicidal Patients Scale. 100 participants returned the questionnaire. General understanding & willingness to nurse patients who attempted suicide did not increase. Results suggest the consultation service did not significantly affect attitudes among hospital emergency room staff during its first year of operation but, in general, the staff was content with the opportunity for psychiatric consultation. (30 refs.)