title: Characteristics of deaths by suicide in Northern Ireland from 2005 to 2011 and use of health services prior to death.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Service presentation may offer an opportunity for intervention prior to suicide. The study aimed to examine the characteristics, disorders and service use profiles of those who had died by suicide in Northern Ireland (NI) from 2005 to 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  An analysis of a database of deaths by suicide and undetermined intent based on data in the NI Coronial files from 2005 to 2011 (N=1667).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Males are three times as likely to die by suicide as females and suicide rates similar among those aged 20-60 years. Females have increased service use prior to suicide; males tend to disengage with services prior to death. Females are more likely to have recorded prior attempts, service use, diagnosis and referral. The most common health service used was primary care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the inclusion of undetermined deaths (probable suicides) a proportion of deaths by suicide remain unrecorded as such. Data on marital status and mental and physical disorders were based on information recorded by police officers from relatives, other informants and medical records. The reliability of this data may therefore be questioned.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary care has an important role in suicide prevention. Gendered patterns in service use prior to death should be considered in suicide prevention programmes. It is important to strengthen clinicians׳ knowledge of the manifestations of suicidal ideation in males and ways of encouraging service use in males. The NI population who were exposed to the height of the violence of the conflict appear to be at increased risk of suicide as they age.
authors.affiliation: Bamford Centre for Mental Health and Well-Being, University of Ulster, Northland Road, Londonderry BT48 7JL, Northern Ireland, UK. Electronic address: sm.oneill@ulster.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Siobhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.affiliation: Bamford Centre for Mental Health and Well-Being, University of Ulster, Northland Road, Londonderry BT48 7JL, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: Colette V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Corry
authors.affiliation: Bamford Centre for Mental Health and Well-Being, University of Ulster, Northland Road, Londonderry BT48 7JL, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Bamford Centre for Mental Health and Well-Being, University of Ulster, Northland Road, Londonderry BT48 7JL, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.affiliation: Bamford Centre for Mental Health and Well-Being, University of Ulster, Northland Road, Londonderry BT48 7JL, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: Brendan P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Bunting
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002423:Cause of Death; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D009660:Northern Ireland; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
keywords: Conflict; Mental Health; Service Use; Suicide