Treatment

Effective treatment and care of suicidal persons depends heavily on individuals’ level of risk, personal needs, and preferences. Approximately 90% of people who die by suicide have a mental disorder at the time of their death. Because of this, professionals widely agree that treating underlying mental disorders and assessing suicide risk are both vital elements in preventing suicide deaths.

Types of Treatment

Use the tabs below to learn about different options for getting medical treatment for a number of suicide risk factors.

Emergency Room

Primary Care Doctor

Inpatient Treatment

Medication

Psychotherapy

Follow Up Care and Continuity of Care

Continuity of Care is the connectedness between more than one health care provider to another in order to provide for a smooth transition of services and patient information with as little interruption for the patient as possible. This is vital in creating an environment and health plan to keep a suicidal patient safe.

The Suicide Prevention Resource Center in partnership with the University of Michigan created a guide for follow up care. This comprehensive work outlines guidelines for the continuing care of patients after a suicide attempt.