title: Gender and age differences among youth, in utilization of mental health services in the year preceding suicide in Taiwan.
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.
authors: School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Hsiu-Ju
authors: HJ
authors: Chang
authors: Yuen-Liang
authors: YL
authors: Lai
authors: Chia-Ming
authors: CM
authors: Chang
authors: Ching-Chiu
authors: CC
authors: Kao
authors: Meei-Ling
authors: ML
authors: Shyu
authors: Ming-Been
authors: MB
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008498:Medical Record Linkage; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult