Hospital presenting suicidal ideation: A systematic review.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Emergency Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Emergency departments are primary settings for individuals experiencing suicidal ideation.
• Understanding patient needs and life circumstances is crucial for effective interventions.
• Appropriate treatment pathways depend on comprehensive service provision.

Approach:

• A systematic literature search was conducted.
• Inclusion criteria focused on adults (over 18) presenting to emergency departments.
• Quantitative studies underwent quality assessment using the EPHPP tool.

Key Points:

• Twenty-seven quantitative studies of reasonable quality were reviewed.
• Presenting individuals exhibited diverse demographics and socio-economic statuses.
• Interpersonal struggles and psychosocial factors were common reasons for presentation, more so than diagnosed mental health conditions.
• Previous suicide attempts were identified as a risk factor.
• Treatment pathways remained unclear, with significant variability across studies.

Conclusions:

• Interpersonal factors are frequently reported as the primary cause of suicidal ideation.
• Trauma and life stories were notably absent in the reviewed literature.
• Despite variability, findings offer clinical relevance for future practice and research direction.