Suicide prevention in French primary care

Context

General practitioners are central to suicide prevention because many people who die by suicide have consulted a GP shortly before their death. Yet little is known about how GPs identify 'suicide risk' among their patients and what they do once it has been identified.

Drawing on critical suicide studies and medical sociology, this project examines how certain forms of suicidality become visible, interpretable and actionable in everyday medical practice. 

The research

The study combined 50 semi-structured interviews with 29 GPs practising across diverse rural, urban and socioeconomic settings in France. Participants discussed suicide assessment, referral decisions and available services.

Following each initial interview, the researchers produced a mind map of local referral options, including emergency departments, psychiatrists, psychologists, community organisations and occupational or school health services. Follow-up interviews allowed participants to correct and expand these maps.

Featured publications

• Suicide Prevention Under Austerity: The Local Shaping of Referral Practices in French Primary Care,

Funding

• Observatoire National du Suicide, France. 

Researcher

• Dr Baptiste Brossard