Using Information to Support Suicide Prevention. Occasional Paper 13

Suicide and self harm are major public health issues, causing considerable distress, significant numbers of deaths and impacting on the NHS in terms of self harm attendances to A&E and admissions to hospital. The need to reduce suicide has been recognised as a key national priority with the publication of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy in 2002. This study aimed to explore how information is currently used to support suicide prevention and specifically to:

• Identify information perceived as useful
• Highlight availability of information and its strengths and weaknesses
• Identify barriers and facilitators to using information
• Determine the geographical level at which such information should be considered.

• Mental Health

• Mental and Behavioural Disorders
• Qualitative Research