History of Mental Health Services Use in Self-Immolation Suicide Attempters Referred to Motahari Burn Center, Tehran, Iran

Suicide is one of the serious challenges facing mankind today. Considering that in our country a study to evaluate the use of mental health services and suicide by self-immolation is not carried out, determining the history of mental health services use in self-immolation suicide attempters seems logical and useful.
The study was conducted from November 2013 for one year in Shahid Motahari hospital, Tehran, Iran. During this time, participants with burn and suicide by self-immolation were identified and after obtaining an informed consent, mental health services access questionnaire during the last year was completed for each participant.
Findings: The average age of the participants in our study was 33.7 and the results of our study showed that over a year before the suicide attempt, 27.5% of those referred to a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist and a total of 20.0% to 37.0% of the patients at least achieved one of them. The most common causes of going to a psychiatrist were: sleep problems, family problems, aggression, addiction-related problems, symptoms of depression and anxiety, respectively. Also, 12.5% of participants over the years before the recent attempt of suicide had a history of psychiatric hospitalization. 57.5% of those were referred to other therapists during last year and in general, 62.5% were at least visited by a therapist or quasi-therapist.
The results of our study revealed a lack of awareness of suicidal mental health services and there are also myths about mental disorders and psychiatric medications recommended in these patients need for further information in the form of community mental health services. Community-based mental health services can be involved in many aspects of individual, family, social and educational at risk of suicide.