Programs to assist those who have attempted suicide
People who have attempted suicide are at high risk of making another attempt. Providing long-term follow-up care
to people after a suicide attempt is one of the most effective strategies for suicide prevention (Beautrais et al. 2007).
Psychiatric patients are at particular risk of suicidal behaviour immediately following discharge from in-patient
care or emergency departments, especially if they had been suicidal or were involuntary admissions (DoHA 2008).
Examples of effective programs to assist people who have attempted suicide, include sending them postcards
after discharge from hospital following a suicide attempt (Carter et al. 2005), providing a ‘green card’ for
emergency access to mental health services (Morgan et al. 1993) and employing counsellors to co-ordinate
follow-up services (Beautrais et al. 2007). The applicability and effectiveness of these programs in relation to
Indigenous people are not known.