Rural versus urban parasuicide--referral and management

The referral and management of parasuicide patients from urban and rural areas were compared in a retrospective study of hospital and general practice records. Whereas most urban patients were physically and psychiatrically managed in general hospitals, the majority of rural patients were managed at home or in cottage hospitals by general practitioners. The overall parasuicide rate of the rural population was found to be similar to that of the city. Although there were no clinical differences between the two groups of patients, relatively more middleaged rural patients were admitted to hospital. The results suggest that parasuicide is now as commonly seen in rural situations, but that the problem is managed outside district general hospitals by general practitioners.