Attitudes of mental health vs. non-mental professionals towards patients presenting with attempted suicide: a comparative study

Mona Srivastava,Ranjana Tiwari

doi:10.4038/sljpsyc.v2i2.4043

Abstract

Background Suicide is a major public health problem. Clinicians attitudes can influence proper management and follow-up of patients who are at risk of repeated self harm. Aims This study attempts to compare the attitudes of mental health and non-mental health workers towards patients who attempt suicide. Methods We used an attitude questionnaire, used previously in another study from India, which looked at attitudes of emergency room clinicians towards suicide. The self administered questionnaire had 34 items with yes/no responses. The study sample included a group of 30 non mental health clinicians working in the Emergency Department. The comparison group consisted of a convenience sample of 30 mental health professionals. We carried out an exploratory factor analysis and identified six factors which described the data. The mean factor scores of the two groups were compared Results The mental health professionals had significantly higher scores for factors 1,4 and 5 which indicate a positive attitude of mental health professionals towards dealing with the patients of attempted suicide compared to non mental health professionals. Conclusions Training and education of non-mental health professionals must be carried out in order to change their attitude towards patients who attempt suicide and this will help in better management of these patients. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sljpsyc.v2i2.4043 SLJPSYCH 2011; 2(2): 63-66

Highlights

Suicide is a major public health problem as recognised by the World Health Organization [1, 2]
These factors can interfere in the proper management and follow-up of patients who are at risk of repeated self harm and the attitudes of clinicians often can interfere with prevention strategies [5]
Non mental health professionals come into frequent contact with individuals who are at high risk of self harm and play an important role in the prevention of suicide [7]

Summary

Introduction

Suicide is a major public health problem as recognised by the World Health Organization [1, 2]. The management of a patient attempting suicide should be based on theoretical knowledge and empirical data but research shows that “unrelated” factors can affect the clinician’s judgement. Some of these are a patient’s attractiveness, socio-economic status and the clinician’s own values. These factors can interfere in the proper management and follow-up of patients who are at risk of repeated self harm and the attitudes of clinicians often can interfere with prevention strategies [5]. Non mental health professionals come into frequent contact with individuals who are at high risk of self harm and play an important role in the prevention of suicide [7]. Aims This study attempts to compare the attitudes of mental health and non-mental health workers towards patients who attempt suicide

Methods

Results

Conclusion