[Suicide attempters' contacts with the primary health care system]

We examined suicide attempters' use of health insurance services as part of an effort to prevent suicidal behaviour.

The research project was a register-based case control study, where cases were persons residing in the County of Funen, Denmark, who made a suicide attempt resulting in contact with a hospital. Controls were matched with respect to gender, age and county of residence on the date of the first registered suicide attempt (index attempt). Data about services paid for by the public health insurance program were collected from the Prevention Register. The data were analyzed using conditional logistic regression.

In the calendar year prior to an index attempt, suicide attempters consulted health professionals, i.e., general practitioners, psychologists or psychiatrists, more often. Gender and age differences were small.

Suicide attempters consult health insurance professionals, especially GPs, more often, and GPs' specific role in the prevention of attempted suicide is discussed.