Help-seeking patterns and attitudes to treatment amongst men who attempted suicide

BACKGROUND: A high percentage of those who complete suicide are not in contact with the psychiatric services and this is particularly evident among men who are the most at-risk group. AIM: To examine take-up of psychiatric services and attitudes to treatment among a sample of men who made a suicide attempt. METHOD: Fifty-two males, aged between 18 and 30 years, who made a medically serious suicide attempt, were followed up 7 years later using chart information and national mortality records. RESULTS: On discharge from hospital all participants were referred to psychiatric aftercare services but one-third (32.7%) never presented and 20% attended only for a short period. Yet almost half (48%) of the sample made a subsequent attempt and 12% completed suicide. Factors contributing to low take-up of services include lack of awareness of psychiatric symptoms, reluctance to disclose distress and negative attitudes to seeking professional help. CONCLUSION: Young males are reluctant to seek professional help for psychiatric problems even following a serious suicide attempt. Factors influencing this include health behaviours linked to traditional expectations for men as well as the type of services provided.