Suicide-Related Knowledge and Attitudes among a Sample of Mental Health Professionals

Inadequate knowledge of the potential signs and risk factors of suicide negatively affects the ability of healthcare professionals to recognize patients at risk of suicide. The principal aim of the present study is to assess the attitudes and knowledge about suicide in a large sample of mental healt...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2021-08, Vol.18 (16), p.8296
Main Authors: Erbuto, Denise, Berardelli, Isabella, Sarubbi, Salvatore, Rogante, Elena, Sparagna, Alice, Nigrelli, Gaia, Lester, David, Innamorati, Marco, Pompili, Maurizio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Attitudes
Health care
Knowledge
Likert scale
Medical personnel
Mental health
Nurses
Patients
Physicians
Prevention
Primary care
Professionals
Psychologists
Quantitative psychology
Questionnaires
Risk analysis
Risk factors
Skills
Suicide
Suicide prevention
Suicides & suicide attempts
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Summary:Inadequate knowledge of the potential signs and risk factors of suicide negatively affects the ability of healthcare professionals to recognize patients at risk of suicide. The principal aim of the present study is to assess the attitudes and knowledge about suicide in a large sample of mental health professionals. We examined the relationship between Suicide Knowledge and Skills Questionnaire items and the experience of a patient dying by suicide. We also examined whether various healthcare professionals respond differently to the items of the Impact of a Patient’s Suicide on Professional and Personal Lives Scale. Results demonstrated that healthcare professionals who had experienced a patient suicide reported greater skills than professionals who had not experienced a patient suicide. However, 44% of professionals who had experienced a patient suicide felt that they did not have adequate training on this particular issue. Among those who had experienced a patient suicide, there was an increased tendency to hospitalize patients with suicide risk and an increased use of collegial consultation. Concerning personal emotions, healthcare professionals reported troubled relationships with family members and friends and the loss of self-esteem. In conclusion, better knowledge and attitudes about suicide are necessary for suicide-prevention strategies.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph18168296