The decision to help-seek within 24-hours following a suicide attempt: Rate and proximal correlates within an emergency department sample

There is a critical need to identify proximal factors associated with help-seeking following a suicide attempt (SA; i.e., attempt to kill oneself). Many individuals receive emergency department care following a SA; however, little is known about factors distinguishing individuals who present to the emergency department voluntarily (i.e., played an active role in presentation through their own action to obtain help or through requesting help) and those who do not (i.e., brought to the emergency department due to no action of their own) following a SA, which could improve suicide prevention efforts. It was hypothesized that using a poisoning SA method and experiencing social support would increase the likelihood of help-seeking following SA. This study utilized electronic health record data for 553 emergency department patients (M_age = 37.94 [SD = 15.67], 53.30 % female, 94.40 % white) presenting within 24-hours after SA during a two and a half year period across six hospitals within a rural healthcare system. Within 24-hours of SA, 34.4 % engaged in help-seeking. The use of a poisoning SA method and a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder increased the likelihood of help-seeking, whereas a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and being in a romantic relationship decreased the likelihood. Results can inform suicide prevention initiatives to promote help-seeking immediately following SA, a critical period that may represent the last opportunity for self-intervention prior to the occurrence of lasting serious injury or death by suicide.