In many cases, suicide attempt survivors who visit emergency rooms (ER) receive psychiatric treatments in a limited capacity. Given the doubts surrounding the usefulness of psychiatric treatments offered to suicide survivors in ER, this study was desi...
In many cases, suicide attempt survivors who visit emergency rooms (ER) receive psychiatric treatments in a limited capacity. Given the doubts surrounding the usefulness of psychiatric treatments offered to suicide survivors in ER, this study was designed to further investigate the potential limitations associated with these forms of treatment. The participants consisted of 299 patients over the age of 15 who visited ER due to suicidal drug overdose between July 2012 and June 2014. The patients were divided into two groups: one that received psychiatric treatment, and one that did not. Participants’ medical history, later recurrent suicide attempts, and follow-up treatments were assessed. The results showed that recurrent suicide attempts decreased significantly in patients who received psychiatric follow-up treatments. However, among patients who only received psychiatric treatment in ER, there was no decrease in recurrent suicide attempts. It seems that there was no improvement in recurrent suicidal attempts in these patients because the one-time psychiatric treatment offered in the ER did not entail follow-up treatments. If such problems in ER psychiatric treatments were addressed, more active and effective intervention would be possible, ultimately helping to prevent recurrent suicide attempts.