Experts say primary care doctors, nurses need to help prevent suicides

By Staff Writer

Breaking down the barrier between mental health and physical well-being may help save lives, according to a team of experts.

The Call to Action on Suicide Prevention in Primary Care Practice conference took place earlier this week in Portland, Oregon. The event, which is sponsored by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, brought together physicians, social workers, researchers, nurses and government agencies. The purpose of the two-day meeting was to develop ideas that could help primary care professionals assess and manage suicide risk.

According to officials, approximately 45 percent of Americans who take their own lives visit their primary care providers within one month before their suicides. About 90 percent of these individuals suffer from mental health or substance abuse problems, or both. However, many primary care services do not adequately screen for emotional or mental problems, the team concluded.

A pediatric nurse from the Georgia Health Sciences University College of Nursing has pledged her support for a national network, which would spread awareness about suicide prevention to other primary care professionals. By educating other doctors and nurses about the impact of certain practices, and by providing facilities with the proper tools, lives could be saved.

The nurse stated that there are not enough mental health professionals to meet the demand, so primary care providers must step up to help identify at-risk individuals.

Adolescents who have suicidal thoughts may benefit from the treatment options that are offered by many wilderness therapy programs.