Does it get easier over time? Psychologists’ experiences of working with suicidal patients

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Abstract

Does working with suicidal patients become easier with time? A representative national survey of 375 psychologists (72% women, Mean age 44 years) showed that years of experience (r = −.13, p =.01) and frequency of contact with suicidal patients (r = −.15, p =.004) correlated only weakly with perceived difficulty. Thematic analysis of respondents’ descriptions of difficult suicide-related situations on an open survey-question yielded four themes: Unreachable patients, choosing between therapy and security, therapist’s boundaries and empathy with death-wishes. We conclude that improved confidence in coping with suicidality may require specific training rather than simply years of work.

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Dundas, I., Hjeltnes, A., Schanche, E., & Stige, S. H. (2022). Does it get easier over time? Psychologists’ experiences of working with suicidal patients. Death Studies, 46(2), 458–466. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2020.1740831

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