Treatment pathways for suicide victims and suicide bereaved

Summary

Despite continued efforts, including two action plans for suicide prevention, suicide remain a significant public health problem with consequences well beyond the lives lost. Prevention strategies have so far mainly focused on the role of the specialist mental health services, whereas the role of primary health care has received less attention. Studies indicate that the quality of the treatment received varies and only a minority of the municipalities in Norway have structural systems for treatment and follow up of suicidal patients and the suicide bereaved. A large proportion of suicide victims have been in contact with primary health care close to the time of suicide, which suggests a high potential for suicide prevention, but little is known about the treatment and follow up they have received. Studies on contact rates and treatment pathways for suicide bereaved are completely lacking, in spite of over 80% of suicide bereaved needing help after the loss.

In this project we aim to explore the treatment and user pathways within the health care and welfare sectors among suicide victims and the suicide bereaved. By identifying factors that either optimise or hinder healthy outcomes the project is likely to improve treatment and prevent suicides. To address the project’s research questions, we will make use of large registry linkages, and complement this information with qualitative data from focus-group interviews. To ensure a high value return to parties involved in suicide prevention, the project is developed and will be executed in close collaboration with the user organisations.