Centre for Mental Health, May 2019
This report explores the role of GP and primary care services in helping people who are at risk of suicide. About 6,000 people die by suicide each year in the UK. Only a third are in contact with mental health services in the year before their death, but many visit their GP in the months before their death. The report identifies five areas for improvement to help GPs to offer life-saving support:
- The provision of effective, ongoing training for GPs
- Investment in the capacity of primary care services to enable longer appointments and continuity of care for patients needing ongoing support
- Emotional support for GPs themselves
- More effective care pathways for people who feel suicidal to clinical and social support
- Opportunities to refer patients who need more specialist support.
Click here to view the full report.