ERIC Number: EJ843892
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Apr
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0363-0234
EISSN: N/A
Risk for Suicide among Medicaid Beneficiaries
Becker, Marion; Brown, Lisa; Ochshorn, Ezra; Diamond, Ronald
Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, v39 n2 p172-181 Apr 2009
Demographic, diagnostic, and service expenditure characteristics of Florida Medicaid enrollees who died by suicide were investigated. Among persons receiving Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), findings indicate the most powerful predictors of suicide were involuntary psychiatric examination, mental health hospitalization, and high mental health service use. Among Medicaid enrollees not receiving SSI, strongest suicide predictors were mental health hospitalization, high expenditures for physical health medications, and involuntary psychiatric examination. Findings suggest reducing involuntary psychiatric examinations and mental health hospitalizations while improving physical health may reduce suicide in the Medicaid population. Comprehensive hospital discharge planning, adherence monitoring with follow-up care, training mental health providers in assessing suicide lethality, and providing adequate assessment time are all crucial to achieve these objectives.
Descriptors: Health Services, Mental Health Programs, Physical Health, Mental Health, Suicide, At Risk Persons, Welfare Services, Welfare Recipients, Social Services, Predictor Variables, Mental Disorders, Hospitals, Access to Health Care, Planning, Counseling Techniques
Guilford Press. 72 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012. Tel: 800-365-7006; Tel: 212-431-9800; Fax: 212-966-6708; e-mail: info@guilford.com; Web site: http://www.guilford.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Florida
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A