title: Clinical pathways for suicidality in emergency settings: a public health priority.
abstract: Rates of self-harm in Australia are increasing and constitute a concerning public health issue. Although there are standard treatment pathways for physical complaints, such as headache, abdominal pain and chest pain, in Emergency Medicine, there is no national pathway for self-harm or other psychiatric conditions that present to the emergency department. Herein we outline the difference between clinical practice guidelines and clinical pathways, discuss pathways we have identified on self-harm in Australia and overseas and discuss their applicability to the Australian context and the next steps forward in addressing this public health issue.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia.
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Urban Mental Health and Wellbeing Research Institute, St Vincent's Hospital, Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia. Email:.
authors.forename: Viola
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Korczak
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia.
authors.forename: Tad
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tietze
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Urban Mental Health and Wellbeing Research Institute, St Vincent's Hospital, Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia. Email:.
authors.forename: Prasuna
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reddy
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D019091:Critical Pathways; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006292:Health Priorities; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control*