@article{ref1,
title="Police contact prior to suicide: a need for communication among health agencies",
journal="Psychiatria Danubina",
year="2006",
author="Linsley, K and Martin, J.",
volume="18",
number="Suppl 1",
pages="93-93",
abstract="The objective of this paper was to evaluate contact with police prior to suicide and to understand interface implications for suicide prevention with health agencies. A systematic study of all suicide, open and accidental deaths was undertaken from 1999 to 2001 inclusive, followed by a cross-reference of Police computer records. Of the 205 suicide cases that were found in the period, 40 (19.5%) had a documented contact with police within 3 months of suicide, a roughly equal mixture of victims and alleged perpetrators of crime. Of these, a significant number had also seen a health professional recently (42.5% with a GP, 32.5% with a mental health worker, and 15% with an A&E department). A significant number of suicides had contact with police, and as many cases had seen a police officer within 3 months of suicide as had seen a mental health professional within 12 months of suicide. There is a need for training for the police in identifying individuals at risk of suicide and better communication between health agencies to help manage this risk.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0353-5053",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}