Tijdschrift voor psychiatrie
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Research has shown that the first months after discharge from psychiatric inpatient care is a high risk period for suicide. However, there has been very little research into the prevention policies that mental health care centres pursue in order to reduce this risk. ⋯ Only half of the mental health institutions employed a preventive policy with regard to post-discharge suicide. So far, the possibilities for prevention have not been fully utilised.
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In connection with recent articles about guidelines for dealing with persons attempting suicide, we investigated the quality and continuity of aftercare provided for patients admitted to a mental institution because they have attempted to commit suicide. 25% of patients received no aftercare at all. For most of the others aftercare began within two weeks; 50% of these patients were still receiving care nine months later. Follow-up studies are needed so that we can find out whether the absence of aftercare can cause problems for patients admitted to an institution because they have threatened to commit suicide.