Gender and age differences among youth, in utilization of mental health services in the year preceding suicide in Taiwan
Journal
Community Mental Health Journal
Journal Volume
48
Journal Issue
6
Pages
771-780
Date Issued
2012
Author(s)
Chang H.-J.
Lai Y.-L.
Chang C.-M.
Kao C.-C.
Shyu M.-L.
MING-BEEN LEE
Abstract
The primary objective of this study was to explore gender and age differences in the use of medical services during the year preceding suicide. Data were obtained from the mortality dataset of Department of Health and National Health Insurance Database. Included in the sample were 862 persons aged 12-24 years who committed suicide in Taiwan between 2001 and 2004. We compared the records of medical service utilization of adolescents (ages 12-18 years) with young adults (ages 19-24 years). Persons in both age groups contacted general practitioners more often than other types of medical providers in the year preceding suicide, with the exception of the month before suicide. Females made greater use of medical services than males in both age groups. Suicide prevention strategies should increase the emphasis in training non-psychiatric medical practitioners to identify and treat young persons at suicide risk. ? Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011.
Subjects
Adolescent; Medical service utilization; Suicide; Young adult
SDGs
Other Subjects
adolescent; adult; article; child; comparative study; female; human; male; medical record; mental disease; mental health service; mental hospital; psychological aspect; retrospective study; sex difference; sex ratio; sexual development; socioeconomics; statistics; suicide; Taiwan; utilization review; Adolescent; Child; Female; Hospitals, Psychiatric; Humans; Male; Medical Record Linkage; Mental Disorders; Mental Health Services; Retrospective Studies; Sex Characteristics; Sex Distribution; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Suicide; Taiwan; Young Adult
Type
journal article