The impact of psychotherapists and primary physicians on suicide and other violent deaths in a rural area.
A northeastern Connecticut area comprising 60,000 people from six small towns and a city of 14,000 was studied as to their suicidal and other violent death rates over a 20-year period (1960-1979). Since there was a 458% increase in the number of practicing psychotherapists and an 82% increase in primary physicians during this period of time, correlations were made to determine whether or not this increase in health professionals diminished the violent death rates. There was no evidence that the increased number of health professionals had an impact on the suicide rate or other violent death rates (p = n.s.). Possible reasons for this are discussed and suggestions made for better utilization of health care workers in preventing suicide and other violent deaths.
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003237:Connecticut; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000592:standards*; D012306:Risk; D012424:Rural Population; D014754:Violence; D000092864:Suicide Prevention