Possibilities of addressing suicide in the family health strategy

Abstract

The paper introduces a study aimed at knowing how health providers from a Family Health Strategy (FHS) service address suicide-related demands. This qualitative research with an interpretative approach was developed through a narrative focus group with health workers of a service located in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The staff ’s difficulties when working with the suicide topic and the resulting emotional effects were identified. Social vulnerabilities of the territory, suicide as a taboo, the workers’ management of suicide-related demands, and the health network inadequacy hamper the work. Feelings of helplessness, guilt and frustration, as well as work-associated stress and overload, were emotional effects identified in the staff. It was concluded that the FHS work has potential for suicide prevention, being critical to strengthen the services network and provide continuing qualification and support to the professionals, aiming to offer the necessary resources to face the difficulties related to working with this topic.