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Background Suicide is the largest killer of men aged <50 years in the UK. Priority areas in the government’s National Suicide Prevention Strategy include tailoring mental health support to at risk groups and addressing the common risk factors linked to death by suicide. Primary care is well placed to address these areas in the system wide approach to suicide prevention.
Aim The aim of this research is to explore GP’s perspectives on suicide prevention in primary care settings in the Yorkshire and Humber Region.
Method GP and GP trainees were recruited from across the Yorkshire and Humber Region using a snowball sampling method. Participants underwent semi-structured qualitative interviews using a topic guide that was informed by a scoping review and mental health PPI group. The interview transcripts were analysed using Framework Analysis.
Results Fourteen interviews were completed (10 female, 4 male). The patient populations served were diverse (middle-class, working-class mining community, asylum seeker practice and Roma population). The main themes include the ‘importance of the third sector’ in improving the social capital of patients and reducing suicide risk; ‘Continuity of care’ was viewed as important by GP’s when managing mental health but was being challenged by new models of working such as ‘same-day triage’; and ‘Postcode lottery’ described the differences in mental health services within the Yorkshire and Humber Region.
Conclusion An integrated system of mental health practitioners in the community with equitable access to third sector support may be important in suicide prevention.
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British Journal of General Practice
