Objective General practitioners (GPs) have frequent interactions and continuous relations with their patients and therefore hold a key position in suicide prevention. Previous studies identified lack of training in suicide prevention as a barrier for GPs, which potentially could have serious consequences for patients at risk of suicide. This study explored how GPs in Denmark manage patients at risk of suicidal behaviour. Methods In this qualitative study, 90 GPs were invited from the Region of Southern Denmark of which eight GPs were recruited and interviewed between December 2024 and January 2025. A reflexive thematic analysis was applied. Results Four themes were generated. Most of the included GPs experienced themselves as being well-educated in suicide prevention and were confident talking to patients at risk. Challenges often arose in the collaboration with external stakeholders such as psychiatric services or the municipality due to rejected referrals or lacking communication. Useful information on specific psychiatric services was difficult to find. Updated practices with incorporation of supporting phrases, easier referral pathways to psychiatric services and access to guidelines could be targets of future improvements. Conclusion The included Danish GPs were generally well-trained and confident in addressing suicidal behaviour, while suicide prevention in primary care can be strengthened through cross-sectoral collaboration and coherence.
Jakobsen et al. (2026) studied this question.