When a patient dies by suicide: incidence, implications and coping strategies
- 1 March 2007
- journal article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Advances in Psychiatric Treatment
- Vol. 13 (2), 134-138
- https://doi.org/10.1192/apt.bp.106.002501
Abstract
Patient suicide is a relatively common event: 50–70% of consultant psychiatrists and 40–50% of psychiatric trainees have experienced at least one patient suicide. Patient suicide can have significant personal and professional effects on psychiatrists, including increased stress, social withdrawal, disruption to relationships, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and consideration of early retirement. Following patient suicide, psychiatrists derive most support from informal contacts with team members, family and friends; additional support may be available through formal support structures or local team initiatives. It is important to place appropriate emphasis on the effects of patient suicide in psychiatry training programmes; to maintain awareness of the importance of informal supports following patient suicide; to strengthen formal systems of support; to identify other potential forms of assistance (e.g. spiritual support); and to develop local team initiatives in this area.This publication has 11 references indexed in Scilit:
- The role of the doctor when a patient commits suicidePsychiatric Bulletin, 2002
- The impact of suicide on community mental health teams: findings and recommendationsPsychiatric Bulletin, 2002
- The experience of patient suicide among trainees in psychiatryPsychiatric Bulletin, 2001
- What to do when a patient commits suicidePsychiatric Bulletin, 2001
- Suicide by patients: questionnaire study of its effect on consultant psychiatristsBMJ, 2000
- Psychiatric trainees' experiences of, and reactions to, patient suicidePsychiatric Bulletin, 2000
- A Psychiatrist’s Reaction to a Patient’s SuicideAmerican Journal of Psychiatry, 1999
- Personality and Stress in Consultant PsychiatristsInternational Journal of Social Psychiatry, 1996
- Patients' suicides: frequency and impact on psychiatristsAmerican Journal of Psychiatry, 1988
- The aftermath of suicide on the psychiatric inpatient unitGeneral Hospital Psychiatry, 1987