Health Professionals’ Explanations of Suicidal Behaviour: Effects of Professional Group, Theoretical Intervention Model, and Patient Suicide Experience

Abstract

In a help relation with a suicidal person, the theoretical models of suicidality can be essential to guide the health professional's comprehension of the client/patient. The objectives of this study were to identify health professionals' explanations of suicidal behaviors and to study the effects of professional group, theoretical intervention models, and patient suicide experience in professionals' representations. Two hundred and forty-two health professionals filled out a self-report questionnaire. Exploratory principal components analysis was used. Five explanatory models were identified: psychological suffering, affective cognitive, sociocommunicational, adverse life events, and psychopathological. Results indicated that the psychological suffering and psychopathological models were the most valued by the professionals, while the sociocommunicational was seen as the least likely to explain suicidal behavior. Differences between professional groups were found. We concluded that training and reflection on theoretical models in general and in communicative issues in particular are needed in the education of health professionals.

Addressing Suicide Risk According to Different Healthcare Professionals in Spain: A Qualitative Study

“…In fact, the main question formulated by general practitioners is knowing clearly how and when to intervene. Thus, training in theoretical models for action and in communication skills would be of the utmost importance [ 59 ].…”

Suporte Social De Familiares E Amigos: Discurso De Pessoas Com Comportamento Suicida

“…No entanto, estudo sobre estratégias de prevenção e pósvenção do suicídio em um Centro de Atenção Psicossocial, constatou, através das falas dos profissionais, dificuldades na abordagem, acolhimento e cuidado à pessoa em risco para o suicídio. Nesse caso, o modelo biomédico, que prioriza o tratamento da doença e não do indivíduo como um ser biopsicossocial, além do estigma por parte do profissional de saúde, desvalorizam e banalizam as queixas dos pacientes com comportamento suicida, bem como o auxílio aos seus familiares (4,22) .…”

The multifaceted role of emotion regulation in suicidality: Systematic reviews and meta-analytic evidence.

“…Finally, an often pointed out factor that introduces heterogeneity in the field of suicidality is related to the multidimensional nature of the construct (Giner et al, 2016; Rothes, 2014). Indeed, differentiating between suicidal ideation and suicidal behaviors may not exhaustively account for the multiplicity of the phenomena included within these two categories.…”