Suicide preventive strategies for the nursing team in the COVID-19: a scoping review

Abstract

Objective: To identify strategies for the prevention of suicidal ideation and suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic for the nursing team. Methods: Scoping review performed in PubMed, VHL, SCOPUS, Web of Science, LILACS, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO databases and in the gray literature, such as Google Scholar. Results: This review comprises 11 articles, all published in English, mostly in year 2021 in the United States of America. The identified strategies include psychoeducation; spaces for embracement of professionals' demands, listening, support and promotion of wellbeing; mental health assessment and screening; referral to specialized support services; psychological intervention and counseling; strategies for recognizing and dealing with triggers, emotions and negative thoughts; self-care actions, among others. Conclusion: Strategies that had a positive impact on the mental health of nursing teams were the creation of spaces for embracement of professionals' demands, listening, support and promotion of wellbeing, and the assessment and screening of mental health as ways of preventing suicidal actions and ideations. The importance of studies that evaluate the effect of strategies on the mental health of nursing teams stands out, so that protocols can be created to mitigate the problem.