Report shows that medical staff poorly treat people who have attempted suicide

The Black Dog Institute and the Centre for Research Excellence in Suicide Prevention have conducted a study into how people are treated by health service professionals after a suicide attempt. The results have raised concerns that some patients are not getting the appropriate care.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data shows that Australia’s suicide rate has increased from 2,132 in 2009 to over 2,500 in 2012, with more than 60,000 Australians making an attempt at suicide each year.

The report showed that many patients were disappointed that emergency doctors hadn’t made an effort to get to the cause of the suicide attempt. Others felt that the overall attitude of medical staff was poor and their knowledge of how to handle suicide patients was quite low. Many felt that they were discharged too quickly and that there was no attempt at a follow up. One patient said “I would like people to treat me with the same respect as a patient having a heart attack.”

Do you think emergency wards should be better equipped to deal with suicidal patients? Or do they have enough with which to deal? Are our hospitals under too much pressure to adequately deal with all medical emergencies?

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This disgusting remark made by Pete about the plight of people with mental problems, should be removed and this person banned.

Moderator please take action.

Thanks for bumping the post Pete and Rayyan.

The topic is far too important to be lost in the background

Abby, from now on please use the user name provided i.e. RAY.

But there is a Ray already at YLC ... before you decided to change your name.

Whatever I put up as my user name, that's what you use. If it clashes with another poster, Admin will let me know, not up to you, OK?

A research project at the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine in South Africa indicates that suicide is on the rise in the country and that children as young as 10 are dying by suicide.

This is even higher than in the US and UK. 

Hi Bridie...that's a very sad situation in South Africa...heartbreaking to hear that children as young as 10 going down that road.

I thought you might like to read about this huge study undertaken by the University of Western Australia. The study was based on a survey of 6300 families and a distinguishing feature was that children were given the opportunity to fill in a separate, secret survey. The researchers estimated that as many as 560,000 young people experienced mental ill-health in the past year, primarily anxiety disorder and/or depression, with one in 13 children aged between 12 and 17 having seriously considered  suicide. 

http://www.theage.com.au/comment/the-age-editorial/mental-health-in-australia-the-government-fiddles-while-young-people-die-20150809-giuxwz.html

Cheers

Emergency services for the suicidal are hampered by lack of facilities and lack of trained staff.

Too many of our young men in country towns have committed suicide in despair also a social outlook as in the joke above shows a complete lack of empathy and comprehension of the depth of the problem amongst some in society. 

It is not a joke to families who have sort help for a family member and found the system failed them. 

If/when "The Black Dog" hits anyone  Professional help is required immediately.

Genuine people saying "you have so much to live for" and "get over it everyone has problems" etc etc goes in one ear and out the other as more than not, it never helps.

The "lay" person including G.P's and nurses are not trained to deal with "The "Black Dog". It is a completely different scenario to being unhappy, a bit down, depressed, and the feelings that most do have in our lives.

You are right Viv. lack of facilities and lack of trained staff are the biggest hurdles.

People who suddenly find themselves in this dire situation need Professional help quickly, but many like myself (after the effects of chemo.) feel beyond bewildered because it is often a "completely new turn of events" for someone who never experienced depression and nearest and dearest also need support.

If one person receives a bit of help talking about it, it has done it's job.

Thanks Leon.

Well said Phyl...

All health services are way over stretched and there is a LOT that needs sorting to help them all

Most suicide attempts do not result in death. Many of these attempts are done in a way that makes rescue possible. These attempts are often a cry for help.

Some people attempt suicide in a way that is less likely to be fatal, such as poisoning or overdose. Men are more likely to choose violent methods, such as shooting themselves. As a result, suicide attempts by men are more likely to result in death.

Relatives of people who attempt or complete suicide often blame themselves or become very angry. They may see the suicide attempt as selfish. However, people who attempt suicide often mistakenly believe that they are doing their friends and relatives a favor by taking themselves out of the world.

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001554.htm

There is a stigma attached to clinical Depression ... This was even witnessed on YLC some months ago.

The demographic most likely to suicide are men of 85 years and over.  I was very surpised at this as I thought it would be younger people.

I stand to be corrected but I believe Australia is unique in the Western World . Where older men Kill their families and themselves. 

Speaking from personal involvement in the mental health field, the situation is a disgrace. The storiers I could tell. People who are so depressed and beg to be admitted turned away by psychiatric acute admissions as there are no beds!

Absolutely correct Bookwyrm...more needs to be done for people who suffer depression.

People have actually committed suicide after being turned away or not being able to get mental health team support outside of hospital. The funding was cut from mental health teams as well.

I think the input has kind of veered away from the original post which was "How health professionals treat people who have attempted suicide"I could be entirely wrong but i read this as the way people are treated in hospital after being saved from an attempted suicide.My experience through family members in the  medical field is that these people while being refered to psycs for further assesments are very deliberately shown no sympathy by hospital staff after a suicide attempt, i think the idea  is not to encourage further attempts, as there are a lot of people with severe mental disturbances that do this on a regular basis trying to get attention. The state of the Mental health system in this country is a disgrace with many in need and unable to get help. Sadly our emergency room medical staff struggle daily trying to discourage suicides but they face a growing tide they cannot stem.

Mental illness, anxiety and depression are widespread in our society ,  and the facts are People fear what they dont understand. There is no simple answer as the brain isn't visable like a broken leg that brings compassion...and I cannot see the situation changing as more people are diagnosed with these conditions and less avenues available to them.

Correct me if I am wrong, but haven't all state governments closed many Insitutions that deal with this issue?   They all seem to want them treated at a home environment.  With unskilled family members either making the situation worse, or saying the wrong thing to a sufferer no wonder the patient thinks it is best to take their own lives as when that happens, they feel the problem is solved.

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