TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2006//
TI  - Police contact prior to suicide: a need for communication among health agencies
JO  - Psychiatria Danubina
A1  - Linsley, K
A1  - Martin, J.
SP  - 93
EP  - 93
VL  - 18
IS  - Suppl 1
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 0353-5053
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -