Prevention of Suicide

Abstract

Abstract Suicide is the ninth major cause of death in the nation. California, according to the latest comprehensive figures (1949), ranks about 50 per cent above the national average. Yet the importance of suicide as a cause of death is gravely underestimated. At hospitals and other agencies only emergency treatment is given before discharge of persons who attempt suicide, although it is known that many will repeat the attempt. Rarely is psychiatric evaluation carried out or definitive treatment prescribed. Suicidal symptoms are often ignored in other cases. Physicians have a responsibility, as in any disorder, to recognize signs and symptoms of impending suicide and to use all means of prevention. Prevention could be forwarded by the education of physicians and laymen in detecting early signs of depression, in recognizing accident proneness, and in insisting upon legal control of use of barbiturates, a common means of suicide. Lay associations should encourage individuals with suicidal impulses to go to psychiatric clinics for help. Police should learn how to deal with suicidal attempts, and hospitals should include psychiatric examination and advice as to treatment of all such persons. Suicidal attempts should be registered and reported to public health officers in the same way as are other dangerous diseases. More research should be done on case records of these patients, in order to better understand motivations and means of prevention.