‘The Health of the Nation’, suicide and the general hospital doctor

Abstract

Records were obtained of all suicide and open verdicts in York (n=127) between 1990–1994 inclusive. Those with no past or current contact with psychiatric services were identified (n=67). The extent and nature of this group's general (i.e. non-psychiatric) hospital contact in the months prior to death was established. Thirteen per cent (9/67) of these received general hospital input in the month before death with eight out of the nine aged over 65. Five of the 67 suicides showed evidence of depression. General hospital practitioners are in a position to make a small but important contribution in reducing the suicide rate.

Suicide in the elderly

“…Cattell & Jolley (1995), for example, reported that within the 12 months preceding suicide, 23% of a series of 100 consecutive elderly suicides had been hospitalised for the investigation and treatment of physical disorders. Elwood & De Silva (1998), in a study of 67 subjects who had made contact with general hospital services but were unknown to psychiatric services, found the elderly to be overrepresented. Out of the nine completed suicides who had received hospital care in the month prior to death, eight were over 65 years old.…”