Table of contents
- Disclaimer
- Recommended citation
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction - Suicide prevention and first aid
- Early detection of risk – Suicide and the relationship with mental disorders
- Talking about suicide and mental health issues
- Suicide prevention – Risk assessment in general practice
- Suicide prevention – Ongoing care for patients and self-care for GPs
- Suicide prevention and first aid resource tool kit
- Disclaimer
- Recommended citation
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction - Suicide prevention and first aid
- Early detection of risk – Suicide and the relationship with mental disorders
- Talking about suicide and mental health issues
- Suicide prevention – Risk assessment in general practice
- Suicide prevention – Ongoing care for patients and self-care for GPs
- Suicide prevention and first aid resource tool kit
Prevalence of mental health issues in Australia
Mental illness accounts for a large percentage of the disease burden in Australia. Addressing mental health issues is, therefore, every health professional’s business.
GPs see approximately 80% of the population every year5 and a significant proportion of GP consultations are for mental health issues or are mental health related.
While not all people with mental health issues are at risk of suicide, it is a risk factor. It is important that GPs are skilled in detecting not only the mental health issues of their patients, but also in assessing the person’s risk of suicide or self-harm.
References
- Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian social trends, March, 2011. Cat. no. 4102.0. Canberra: ABS, 2011. [Accessed 13 January 2016].