Abstract
BackgroundExposure to patient or user suicide (PUS) is identified as a challenging occupational hazard for mental health and social work professionals. Professionals exposed to PUS may encounter several ranges of emotional, traumatic or professional impacts in the aftermath. A high proportion of exposed professionals reports a lack of support in the aftermath of PUS. SUPPORT is a postvention program designed to provide a comprehensive, adaptative and effective support to professionals impacted by PUS. The aims of the SUPPORT-S study are to (1) improve the design of the SUPPORT program, (2) evaluate the effectiveness of the program to buffer the emotional, traumatic and professional impacts and to improve the perceived social support for professionals exposed to PUS, and (3) provide more insights into the consequences of PUS on both professionals and organizations.MethodThe SUPPORT-S study is a mixed method collaborative and participatory action research. The simultaneous and complementary collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data will offer an in-depth evaluation of the implementation and the effectiveness of the program. The qualitative evaluation includes: (a) an ethnographic observation; (b) 25 semi-directed interviews with randomized participants; (c) an activity analysis with providers of the program; and (d) collaborative sharing of the results with providers and participants. The quantitative evaluation includes pre- and post-measures in participants of: (a) emotional impact (Differential Emotions Scale IV); (b) traumatic impact (Impact of Event Scale-Revised); (c) professional impact (non-validated questionnaire); and (d) perceived social support (Perceived Social Support Scale for Professionals). The action research design will rely on: (a) the cycling process of implementation/evaluation/data sharing/adjustment and (b) the participatory approach through data sharing with providers and participants. Triangulation, saturation, randomization, and participatory design will also reduce the risk of biases and will improve the generalizability of conclusions.Expected ResultsWe expect the SUPPORT-S study to evaluate and improve the design of the SUPPORT program to effectively help professionals to cope with PUS.ConclusionThe results of the study will allow us to disseminate an effective and adaptive postvention program for professionals and institutions encountering PUS.
Highlights
Exposure to patient or user suicide (PUS) has been identified as a frequent and challenging occupational hazard for mental health and social work professionals (Gulfi et al, 2010; Séguin et al, 2014; Castelli Dransart et al, 2017; Leaune et al, 2019a)
Research dedicated to the development and evaluation of comprehensive and adaptive programs providing support to mental health professionals and social workers exposed to PUS is needed. In line with this urgent need for social change, this article aims to describe (1) the design and implementation of a postvention program (SUPPORT) for professionals exposed to PUS and (2) the protocol of the SUPPORT-S research-action study evaluating and improving the design of the SUPPORT program to effectively help professionals to cope with PUS
Secondary objectives The SUPPORT-S study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the SUPPORT program to buffer the emotional, traumatic and professional impacts and to improve the perceived social support for professionals exposed to PUS
Summary
Exposure to patient or user suicide (PUS) has been identified as a frequent and challenging occupational hazard for mental health and social work professionals (Gulfi et al, 2010; Séguin et al, 2014; Castelli Dransart et al, 2017; Leaune et al, 2019a). Considering PUS, all the members of the staff may encounter high levels of psychological distress and professional difficulties in the aftermath, including emotional, traumatic, and professional impacts (Séguin et al, 2014; Castelli Dransart et al, 2017; Leaune et al, 2019a,b). The aims of the SUPPORT-S study are to (1) improve the design of the SUPPORT program, (2) evaluate the effectiveness of the program to buffer the emotional, traumatic and professional impacts and to improve the perceived social support for professionals exposed to PUS, and (3) provide more insights into the consequences of PUS on both professionals and organizations
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