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What is this resource?

Every day, almost eight people in Australia die by suicide.1 For each of those people, the impact on those around them, including clinicians, may be profound and prolonged.2–4 Being bereaved by suicide has been described as ‘grief with the volume turned up’.5

After suicide: A resource for GPs is designed to help general practitioners (GPs) respond to suicide in their communities – particularly those in Australia’s rural and remote regions. It contains useful information, links and resources to add to your tool kit to help bereaved patients, your community and yourself. It is not a replacement for comprehensive mental health training, nor is it a clinical practice guide.

The GPMHSC has developed a second resource – Suicide prevention and first aid: A resource for GPs, which aims to support GPs to recognise and respond to patients whose mental health issues might be risk factors for suicide. This resource is available on the GPMHSC website. 

References

  1. Mindframe National Media Initiative. Facts and stats about suicide in Australia. Australia: Mindframe National Media Initiative, 2016.  [Accessed 1 February 2016].
  2. headspace. School support suicide postvention toolkit. Melbourne: headspace, 2012.
  3. McDowell AK, Lineberry TW, Bostwick JM. Practical suicide-risk management for the busy primary care physician. Mayo Clin Proc 2011;86(8):792–800.
  4. Gutin N, McGann V, Jordan J. The impact of suicide on professional caregivers. In: Jordan J, McIntosh J, editors. Grief after suicide: Understanding the consequences and caring for the survivors. New York: Routledge, 2011.
  5. Public Health England and the National Suicide Prevention Alliance. Help is at Hand: Support after someone may have died by suicide. England: Public Health England and the National Suicide Prevention Alliance, 2010.

Downloads

After suicide: A resource for GPs