Suicide Risk Screening, Nursing Interventions, and Mental Health Service Utilization among Inpatients: A Retrospective Study in a Tertiary Hospital

Purpose: This study investigated the disease characteristics, prevalence of depression, activities of daily living, suicide prevention nursing interventions, and mental health service utilization among inpatients at high risk for suicide in a tertiary hospital. Methods: A retrospective analysis of medical records was conducted for 386 patients aged ≥14 years admitted between January 2019 and July 2022. Nurses screened patients for suicide risk, and data on depression, activities of daily living, suicide prevention nursing interventions, and mental health service utilization were collected.Results: The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 5.4 per 1,000 inpatients. High-risk patients had a mean age of 55.6 years, a mean length of stay of 13 days, and the highest proportion of these patients had cancer (41.4%). Suicide prevention nursing interventions were implemented in only 57.3% of high-risk cases. Depression, activities of daily living, and suicide prevention nursing interventions were significantly associated with mental health service utilization.Conclusion: Direct inquiry about suicidal ideation is crucial for the early identification of at-risk patients. Tailored suicide prevention nursing interventions are necessary to improve mental health service utilization. These findings support the development of suicide prevention policies and nursing practices in healthcare institutions.