The effects of patient suicide on nursing staff

Attitudes towards patient suicide, and the effects that this has on nursing staff are rather complex, and should not be viewed on a simple negative/positive continuum. Suicide is a difficult but inevitable incident that affects psychiatric units, and the limited literature on nurses' attitudes to suicide, and the effects that patient suicide has on them has highlighted the need for emotional and professional support from their colleagues, including senior nurses, psychiatrists and managers, to cope better after a patient has committed suicide. Furthermore, the importance of regular meetings and reviews of assessment and prevention policies has also been emphasized. The present study looked at the effects that suicide has on nursing staff, their attitudes, and ways of improving their coping skills. Major findings include the lack of emotional support, the need for training, formal assessment of patients at risk, regular multidisciplinary meetings following a suicide and nursing staff's acceptance of suicide as the patient's personal choice. Recommendations for helping nursing staff during the post-suicide period are suggested.