Efficacy of a Program Associated with a Local Community of Suicide Attempters who Visited a Regional Emergency Medical Center

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The number of suicide attempts has increased in Korea. Not only physical therapy, but also psychiatric treatment is important. And urgent follow-up community mental health care is needed. This study reports on a management program associated with community mental health centers for suicide attempters who visited a regional emergency medical center; we suggest establishment of community mental health centers with an emergency department on a national scale. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 582 suicide attempters who visited a regional emergency medical center from March 1, 2009 to October 31, 2010. We recorded information on gender, age, patient's identification number, method of suicide attempt, number of previous attempts, past history of psychiatric disease, patient disposition, and Risk-rescue rating scale (RRRS). We analyzed fatality according to gender, age, method of suicide attempt, number of previous attempts, past history of psychiatric disease, and RRRS. We used Pearson's chi-square test and Mann-Whitney test for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Women had more suicide attempts than men and drug intoxication was the most common method of attempted suicide. Significant differences in fatality were observed according to age, gender, methods of attempted suicide, RRRS and no past history of psychiatric disease. Thirty three suicide attempters were registered to community mental health centers and underwent regular follow-up. CONCLUSION: Follow up through community mental health centers is important. However, there is a limitation of low enrollment and a regional medical center. Therefore, government support for community mental health centers is needed. If follow-up studies with community mental health centers are conducted on a national scale, the number of suicide attempters will be reduced.