2017-06-292026-03-272017-06-292011Tomás Martínez Ibarra0007-125010.1192/bjp.bp.110.084129http://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.110.084129https://repositorio.inprf.gob.mx/handle/123456789/5394Background: Suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide; however, little information is available about the treatment of suicidal people, or about barriers to treatment. Aims: To examine the receipt of mental health treatment and barriers to care among suicidal people around the world. Method: Twenty-one nationally representative samples worldwide (n=55 302; age 18 years and over) from the World Health Organization's World Mental Health Surveys were interviewed regarding past-year suicidal behaviour and past-year healthcare use. Suicidal respondents who had not used services in the past year were asked why they had not sought care. Results: Two-fifths of the suicidal respondents had received treatment (from 17% in low-income countries to 56% in high-income countries), mostly from a general medical practitioner (22%), psychiatrist (15%) or non-psychiatrist (15%). Those who had actually attempted suicide were more likely to receive care. Low perceived need was the most important reason for not seeking help (58%), followed by attitudinal barriers such as the wish to handle the problem alone (40%) and structural barriers such as financial concerns (15%). Only 7% of respondents endorsed stigma as a reason for not seeking treatment. Conclusions: Most people with suicide ideation, plans and attempts receive no treatment. This is a consistent and pervasive finding, especially in low-income countries. Improving the receipt of treatment worldwide will have to take into account culture-specific factors that may influence the process of help-seeking.engacceso cerradoarticle1Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz64-70Londres199RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED-TRIALBORDERLINE PERSONALITY-DISORDERDIAGNOSTIC INTERVIEW CIDIMENTAL-HEALTH SURVEYSHELP-SEEKINGPREVENTIONCAREHOSPITALIZATIONORGANIZATIONBEHAVIOR