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Addressing Suicidality in Primary Care Settings

  • Psychiatry in Primary Care (BN Gaynes, Section Editor)
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Abstract

By design or by default, primary care providers (PCPs)are frequently the vanguard in the fight against suicide. Recent studies have highlighted programs to improve screening and prevention of suicidality in the medical home, particularly among high-risk patients, such as adolescents, the elderly, and veterans. Increasing efforts are also being paid to improving the PCP’s skill in assessing for suicidality. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that screening alone will not significantly lower suicide rates until it occurs within a well-integrated system that facilitates timely referral to more intensive mental health services for those patients who need them. Unfortunately, such systems are sorely lacking in many, if not most, areas of the USA.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Disclosure

Dr. Bostwick reported no potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article.

Dr. Rackley receives grant support from the Maternal Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration for a Collaborative Office Rounds program with Primary Care Pediatricians.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 1st St SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    J. Michael Bostwick

  2. The George Washington, University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA

    Sandra Rackley

  3. Children’s National Medical Center, University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA

    Sandra Rackley

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  1. J. Michael Bostwick
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  2. Sandra Rackley
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Correspondence to J. Michael Bostwick.

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Bostwick, J.M., Rackley, S. Addressing Suicidality in Primary Care Settings. Curr Psychiatry Rep 14, 353–359 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-012-0286-7

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