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

Juan-Luis Muñoz-Sánchez, María Cruz Sánchez-Gómez, María Victoria Martín-Cilleros, Esther Parra-Vidales, Diego De Leo and Manuel A. Franco-Martín
Additional contact information
Juan-Luis Muñoz-Sánchez: Psychiatry and Mental Health Department, Hospital Universitario Río Hortega, C/ Dulzaina, 2, 47012 Valladolid, Spain
María Cruz Sánchez-Gómez: Departamento de Didáctica, Organización y Métodos de Investigación, Facultad de Educación, Universidad de Salamanca, Paseo de Canalejas 169, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
María Victoria Martín-Cilleros: Departamento de Didáctica, Organización y Métodos de Investigación, Facultad de Educación, Universidad de Salamanca, Paseo de Canalejas 169, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
Esther Parra-Vidales: INTRAS Foundation, Ctra. de la Hiniesta 137, 49024 Zamora, Spain
Diego De Leo: Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus, Mount Gravatt, QLD 4122, Australia
Manuel A. Franco-Martín: Psychiatry and Mental Health Department, Hospital Universitario Río Hortega, C/ Dulzaina, 2, 47012 Valladolid, Spain

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 10, 1-17

Abstract: This study analyzes the views of four groups of healthcare professionals who may play a role in the management of suicidal behavior. The goal was to identify key factors for suicide prevention in different areas of the healthcare system. Qualitative research was conducted using focus groups made up of different healthcare professionals who participated in the identification, management, and prevention of suicidal behavior. Professionals included were primary care physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, and emergency physicians. ‘Suicide’ was amongst the most relevant terms that came up in discussions most of the times it appeared associated with words such as ‘risk’, danger’, or ‘harm’. In the analysis by categories, the four groups of professionals agreed that interventions in at-risk behaviors are first in importance. Prevention was the second main concern with greater significance among psychiatrists. Primary care professionals call for more time to address patients at risk for suicide and easier access to and communication with the mental health network. Emergency care professionals have a lack of awareness of their role in the detection of risk for suicide in patients who seek attention at emergency care facilities for reasons of general somatic issues. Mental health care professionals are in high demand in cases of self-harm, but they would like to receive specific training in dealing with suicidal behavior.

Keywords: suicide; suicidal behavior; risk of suicide; suicide prevention; health professionals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:10:p:2117-:d:172109

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