Long term risks after suicide attempt

Depression increases the risk of suicide

A scientific study has confirmed that people who have tried to commit suicide are still at higher risk - even decades later.

The research, published in the British Medical Journal, is intended to warn doctors not to dismiss any previous suicide attempts when dealing with a depressed patient, regardless of how long ago they may have occurred.

What we have to do is reduce the stigma of mental illness and suicide

Dr Rory O'Connor, University of Strathclyde

Researchers from the Department of Psychiatry at East Ham Memorial Hospital in east London followed up 140 patients first treated for a "parasuicide" in the 1970s.

It's already known that in the year following a suicide attempt, the suicide rate is 100 times higher than in the general population.

However, the long term risk of suicide following an attempt is uncertain.

Higher risk

The suicide rate in the following 22 years for the 140 patients was calculated at 5.9 per 1,000 for every year.

This rate, which remains much higher than the general population, did not decline over the years.

Professor Bo Runeson, from the the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, wrote in the BMJ: "To pay attention to previous parasuicide in the assessment of the patient in the emergency department is crucial, because it may indicate a serious risk even if the act was committed several years ago."

Dr Rory O'Connor, from the Suicidal Behaviour Research Group at the University of Strathclyde, told BBC News Online that it was important that doctors learned the skill of empathising with patients, so that they would be more likely to admit previous suicide attempts.

He said: "It's important to remember that the vast majority of people who are depressed do not kill themselves.

"What we have to do is reduce the stigma of mental illness and suicide so that people feel more free to admit they have attempted suicide.

"Patients should not feel ashamed to seek help if they feel depressed - there are services out there which can help."