The Role of Mental Health Services Among People Who Attempted Suicide by Taking a Drug Overdose During the Last Year Before Their Suicide Commission

Background: Suicide victims frequently have had contact with mental health services before they commit suicide. In this study, the rate of mental health care system contact during the last year before the suicide commission was evaluated. Methods: Utilization of mental health care was evaluated during the last 12 months among 231 individuals who committed suicide assessed by the questionnaire. Results: Of the suicide victims, 62% had used mental health services at least once. The mean age of the patients was 29.7 years (SD = 4/11). There was not a significant difference in age between men and women who had used mental health services (p=0.077). There was a significant relationship between the two groups using and not using mental health services and suicide (p=0.008). There was also a significant relationship between psychiatric illness and mental health services use (p 0.0001). Of the suicide victims, 5.6 % had a history of psychiatric hospitalization during the last year before the suicide commission. Conclusion: Mental health care providers should perform an accurate suicide risk assessment and post-discharge treatment planning. Continued and more serious follow-up of these patients with strategies such as psychosocial intervention or methods such as telemedicine (continuous and right communication through phone calls, email, and other tools) are necessary for preventing suicide.