S01.01 - Suicide, an unexpected event for health professionals

Abstract

Suicide has a profound effect on the family, friends, and associates of the victim that transcends the immediate loss. Health professionals as well family members are usually unaware of immediate suicide risk and often present disbelief. The event is totally unexpected. This is a key issue in suicide prevention as underestimation of suicide risk and

As those close to the victim suffer through bereavement, a variety of reactions and coping mechanisms are engaged as each individual sorts through individual reactions to the difficult loss. Literature suggest that health professional in general and mental health professionals in particular are often unprepared and uneasy when it comes to deal with suicide risk. Communication of suicide intent has been reported as a common feature among suicide victims, yet some patients barely let other people know their intention to commit suicide or clinicians are not trained to notice warning signs. So it is of paramount important to integrate such communications with tactics to better identify suicidal patients. Managment of these patients is therefore a great issue and a difficult task which can be accomplish with the help of GPs, family members, psychiatrists and community members. Substance abuse disorder comorbid with other psychiatric disorders impairs positve outcome and dramatically increase suicide risk. Combined treatment is not always provided for such patients and proper management of suicidality is generally reduced. This symposium addresses some of the key issues in suicide prevention related to the role of health professionals in the assessment of suicide risk.