Crisis
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The firearms climate in Ireland is rapidly changing, and there is currently no research on the risk profiles of those dying through firearms suicides. ⋯ The findings have implications for awareness training for suicide prevention workers and for those concerned with Ireland's increasingly liberal firearms climate.
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Suicidal behavior is an understudied subject in Pakistan, a South-Asian developing country with a predominantly Muslim population. ⋯ Patients who left the ED without psychosocial assessment are at increased risk for repetition of DSH as well as suicide.
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Comparative Study
The attitudes of emergency staff toward attempted suicide patients: a comparative study before and after establishment of a psychiatric consultation service.
The staff in the emergency room of general hospitals are under heavy work pressure and seem to reveal negative attitudes toward suicide attempters. From earlier studies there is indirect evidence that the attitudes of staff who have the opportunity to consult a psychiatrist are less negative. ⋯ The results suggest that providing a psychiatric consultation service did not significantly affect attitudes among general hospital emergency room staff toward attempted suicide patients during its first year of operation, but in general, the emergency room staff was content with the opportunity for psychiatric consultation.
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Previous deliberate self-harm (DSH) is the strongest predictor of suicide. Although several studies exist in other countries, characteristics of DSH have not been well-studied in Pakistan. ⋯ Despite the difference in socio-cultural background of our patients, many of our results were found to be consistent with Western data. Our findings suggest that problem-solving therapy, stress management and improved mental health care may be effective interventions in preventing DSH. Prescription of medications should be regulated. Further studies are suggested at the community level.