Impact of the Mental Health Care Continuity-Chain among Individuals Expressing Suicidal Behaviour in a Spanish Sample

Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2020 Jul;41(7):602-607. doi: 10.1080/01612840.2019.1692979. Epub 2020 Apr 7.

Abstract

Poor coordination between different healthcare services means that the proper follow-up of patients cannot be guaranteed, thus increasing the risk of relapse in cases of attempted suicide. This study describes the sociodemographic variables related to suicidal behaviour in a Spanish sample and analyses how the use of a continued nursing care protocol influences the follow-up of patients who have shown suicidal behaviour. A cohort of 213 patient was identified from the emergency department medical records because of suicide attempters during 2011; 51.6% were included in the intervention group (n = 110) and 48.4% (n = 103) in the control group. We used a specific continuity of care chain protocol with the patients in the intervention group. More than half of all the initial suicide attempts were made by women; 80.3% had a previous history of a mental disorder and 65.7% of the attempts were made by ingesting medications. Significantly more patients in the intervention group attended their first follow-up visit. This study highlights the need to implement protocols that favour the continuity of mental health care processes-especially those designed to treat individuals expressing suicidal behaviour-with the aim of reducing the risk of suicide in them by intensifying their monitoring.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Continuity of Patient Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Health Services / statistics & numerical data*
  • Middle Aged
  • Recurrence
  • Sex Factors
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Spain
  • Suicidal Ideation*
  • Suicide, Attempted / statistics & numerical data*
  • Young Adult