Survey of Americans Who Attempted Suicide Finds Many Aren’t Getting Care

The New York Times

Suicide attempt rates increased nationally from 2008 to 2019, according to a recent study. However, the proportion of suicide attempt survivors receiving mental health care did not. The study found that about 40 percent of people who attempted suicide in the past year had not received any mental health services in that period. Asked about barriers to accessing care, study participants noted high costs, uncertainty about where to go for help, and lack of transportation. People who survive a suicide attempt are at increased risk for another attempt, making access to mental health care so important. But most attempt survivors do recover and do not go on to die by suicide, points out Paul Nestadt, an assistant professor of psychology at Johns Hopkins. “The bottom line is, our treatments really work. . . .” he said. “But people have to be able to access care.”

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