Subject Area
Sociology
Description
Mental health care professionals will inevitably encounter all types of “unsuccessful cases” in their line of work. Patient suicide is the extreme of these cases and can have a negative impact on their personal and professional life. This study sought to continue and expand research in this area by investigating the experiences and impact of patient suicide on all mental health professionals, the services available to them, and their opinions on best practice methods. Twenty- eight in-patient and five out-patient mental healthcare workers in Rhode Island were surveyed for this study. Analysis confirmed the impact of patient suicide on professionals and revealed that a systemic plan and/or group of support is crucial in helping them to cope with a patient suicide effectively and appropriately. These findings can serve as evidence for social workers who may need to advocate that these necessary support services be provided for all mental healthcare professionals, with their profession being included. This study also offers helpful information on methods utilized successfully by professionals, which can be used by others for guidance on how to deal with similar difficult experiences and encourages further investigation on the subject.
Publisher
Providence College
Date
Spring 4-7-2009
Type
Thesis
Format
Text
Language
English
Comments
A project based on independent investigation, submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Social Work. Originally written for the Theory Practice Seminar, Providence College, 2009.