Suicide Risk
Resource type
Authors/contributors
- Wiggers, John (Author)
- O'Dea, Ian (Author)
- Gray, Jane (Author)
- Lynch, Margaret (Author)
- Tay, Tracey (Author)
- Hay, Liz (Author)
- Mackenzie, Marika (Author)
- Swan, Judith (Author)
- Harrison, Karen (Author)
Title
Suicide Risk
Abstract
Chronic mental health problems (depressive disorder, anxiety and schizophrenia) account for 9% of all chronic problems managed by General Practitioners (GPs). However, the prevalence of patients at risk of suicide is hard to quantify as GPs often document suicide ideation or suicide attempt as “depression”. A study conducted in the local Lake Macquarie area showed that GPs did not reliably predict patients with suicide ideation. In order to support GPs to manage patients at risk of suicide, the Hunter New England Local Health District (HNE LHD) Mental Health services and the Hunter Medicare Local (HML) Psychology Service agreed to be involved in developing a Suicide Risk HealthPathway.
Series Title
Hunter & New England HealthPathways Phase Two Evaluation
Date
July 2014
Language
en
Notes
Study topic:
Evaluation of the Suicide Risk HealthPathway developed to support GPs in assessing suicide risk and making appropriate referrals.
Study type:
Mixed methods programme evaluation (including referral audits, GP interviews, and usage analytics)
Key findings:
- The Suicide Risk HealthPathway was developed through a comprehensive process involving GPs, psychologists, and mental health specialists, and was published in December 2012.
- Utilisation of the Suicide Risk pathway was low among general practices (average of 4 users per quarter) but higher among HNE LHD users (average of 52 users per quarter).
- Referral quality improved for HNE Mental Health services, with the proportion of referrals naming a specialist increasing from 18% to 62%, and inclusion of allergy information rising from 32% to 58%.
- No notable change was observed in referral quality to the HML Suicide & Self Harm Program, with low rates of referrals meeting programme criteria both pre- and post-pathway.
- GP interviews revealed positive perceptions of HealthPathways overall, but none had used the Suicide Risk pathway specifically; most accessed HealthPathways for referral information.
- Barriers to use included time constraints, reliance on familiar resources, and lack of awareness of specific pathways.
- Suggestions for improvement included clearer feedback on referrals, visibility of wait times, and more incentives or prompts to use the pathway.
Citation
Wiggers, J., O’Dea, I., Gray, J., Lynch, M., Tay, T., Hay, L., Mackenzie, M., Swan, J., & Harrison, K. (2014). Suicide Risk (Hunter & New England HealthPathways Phase Two Evaluation).
Document
Link to this record