In collaboration with the Oxford Centre of Suicide Research, I conducted two surveys, one of psychiatrists and another of mental health professionals in general. The suicide of a patient had a significant impact on the emotional wellbeing of 92% of surveyed psychiatrists (105 participants), with 71% experiencing sadness, 33% fear, and 31% guilt and self-blame. Almost 50% (50 out of 106 participants) of mental health professionals of all professional backgrounds thought their mental health had been adversely affected by a patient’s suicide and they also reported similar feelings of sadness and culpability.
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92% suffered a significant impact on emotional wellbeing
71% experiencing sadness, 33% fear, and 31% guilt and self-blame Almost 50% thought their mental health had been adversely affected |
RCPsych Peer Support Group
Bi monthly RCPsych Peer support group for any psychiatrists at any level in any of the devolved nations. To join please contact the Psychiatrists Support Service.
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Papyrus’s suicide prevention helpline, HOPELINE247, is not only here to support young people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, or those concerned for them. It’s also here for any professional who has had an experience with suicide and would like to talk it through with a trained professional.
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Practitioner Health is a free, confidential NHS primary care mental health and addiction service with expertise in treating health & care professionals.
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A page on the RCP website designated to supporting psychiatrists during the difficult time after a patient has died. There you will find many video, audio and written recourses.
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More must be done to both recruit and retain psychiatrists if services are to be in place that effectively meet the needs of patients. That means the health and wellbeing of psychiatrists must be considered fully.
One area that can be particularly traumatic for psychiatrists and calls for support from employing bodies is when one of their patients dies by suicide. Families of those who died often want answers and therefore a psychiatrist who is able to participate effectively in any follow-up activity is also important to them. That is why the College, working with the Oxford Centre for Suicide Research, have produced this report which provides employers of psychiatrists and other policy makers with guidance, that, if implemented, can mitigate the damaging impact of patient death by suicide on staff involved in their care – which can include burnout, mental health problems and, in some cases, staff leaving the mental health sector altogether. |
What is it like for a psychiatrist when a patient dies by suicide? In our latest podcast we speak to Dr Ros Ramsay and Dr Rachel Gibbons regarding the kinds of support that are available to psychiatrists and the inevitable philosophical questions that suicide provokes.
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A patient’s suicide can have a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of healthcare staff and future patient care
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“Life Beyond the Cubicle: Working Well with Families in Mental Health Crises” is an e-learning series authored by Making Families Count, available on the NHS Learning Hub. It comprises six modules designed to enhance healthcare professionals’ engagement with families during mental health crises. Topics include the significance of family involvement, addressing assumptions, managing emotions, confidentiality, safety planning, and providing resources for families and friends. The series also offers a guide for group-based learning, facilitating collaborative education among practitioners.
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