A global view of suicidal behaviour

Suicidal behaviour is a major public health problem. There is no one explanatory theory of suicidal behaviour, and various combinations of sociological and biological/medical interventions are required to reduce associated mortality and morbidity. The importance of primary prevention varies from community to community, and may have an impact at the population level. However, individual suicidal persons always require optimum assessment and management and that is usually provided by primary care and emergency physicians. This paper provides an overview of issues to be addressed in the assessment and management of suicidal patients.