Indo-Canadian Collaboration for Suicide Prevention: Training Needs Assessment for Healthcare Professionals in India

Overview

Journal Community Ment Health J

Specialty Health Services

Date 2015 May 27

PMID 26007647

Citations 2

Authors

Ravi Shah

Rahel Eynan

Amresh Srivastava

Leanna Reiss

T S Sathyanarayana Rao

Shubhangi Parkar

Lakshman Dutt

Kranti Kadam

Paul S Links

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment of primary healthcare professionals in order to develop a training program aimed at enhancing competencies in suicide risk assessment and management. A total of 144 primary healthcare professionals (physicians = 46; primary care workers = 98) completed the needs assessment questionnaire. The majority of healthcare professionals rated their level of comfort and competence in assessing, treating, and referring suicidal patients as medium or high. However, their knowledge about suicide, risk factors for suicide, asking about suicidal behaviour, and helping a suicidal patient was rated low or medium. Overall, the scarcity of qualified healthcare professionals and the existing gaps in core competencies for suicide risk assessment and management was identified. Development of innovative and effective competencies-based suicide specific training for primary care providers in India is urgently required.

Citing Articles

Attitudinal Beliefs About Suicidal Behavior and Attitudes Towards Suicide Attempts in Colombian Healthcare Professionals.

Bahamon M, Javela J, Bechara A, Cabezas-Corcione A, Cudris-Torres L Healthcare (Basel). 2024; 12(21).

PMID: 39517381 PMC: 11544803. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12212169.

Suicide prevention competencies among urban Indian physicians: A needs assessment.

Eynan R, Reiss L, Links P, Shah R, Rao T, Parkar S Indian J Psychiatry. 2016; 57(4):397-402.

PMID: 26816429 PMC: 4711242. DOI: 10.4103/0019-5545.171848.

References

Schmitz Jr W, Allen M, Feldman B, Gutin N, Jahn D, Kleespies P . Preventing suicide through improved training in suicide risk assessment and care: an American Association of Suicidology Task Force report addressing serious gaps in U.S. mental health training. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2012; 42(3):292-304. DOI: 10.1111/j.1943-278X.2012.00090.x. View

Gururaj G, Isaac M, Subbakrishna D, Ranjani R . Risk factors for completed suicides: a case-control study from Bangalore, India. Inj Control Saf Promot. 2005; 11(3):183-91. DOI: 10.1080/156609704/233/289706. View

Radhakrishnan R, Andrade C . Suicide: An Indian perspective. Indian J Psychiatry. 2013; 54(4):304-19. PMC: 3554961. DOI: 10.4103/0019-5545.104793. View

Phillips M, Yang G, Zhang Y, Wang L, Ji H, Zhou M . Risk factors for suicide in China: a national case-control psychological autopsy study. Lancet. 2002; 360(9347):1728-36. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(02)11681-3. View

BRODY D, Thompson 2nd T, Larson D, Ford D, Katon W, Magruder K . Recognizing and managing depression in primary care. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 1995; 17(2):93-107. DOI: 10.1016/0163-8343(94)00093-s. View

Luoma J, Martin C, Pearson J . Contact with mental health and primary care providers before suicide: a review of the evidence. Am J Psychiatry. 2002; 159(6):909-16. PMC: 5072576. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.159.6.909. View

Beautrais A, Joyce P, Mulder R, Fergusson D, Deavoll B, Nightingale S . Prevalence and comorbidity of mental disorders in persons making serious suicide attempts: a case-control study. Am J Psychiatry. 1996; 153(8):1009-14. DOI: 10.1176/ajp.153.8.1009. View

Tierney R . Suicide intervention training evaluation: a preliminary report. Crisis. 1994; 15(2):69-76. View

Appleby L, Shaw J, Amos T, McDonnell R, Harris C, McCann K . Suicide within 12 months of contact with mental health services: national clinical survey. BMJ. 1999; 318(7193):1235-9. PMC: 27859. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.318.7193.1235. View

10.

Prasad J, Abraham V, Minz S, Abraham S, Joseph A, Muliyil J . Rates and factors associated with suicide in Kaniyambadi Block, Tamil Nadu, South India, 2000-2002. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2006; 52(1):65-71. DOI: 10.1177/0020764006061253. View

11.

Eynan R, Reiss L, Links P, Shah R, Rao T, Parkar S . Suicide prevention competencies among urban Indian physicians: A needs assessment. Indian J Psychiatry. 2016; 57(4):397-402. PMC: 4711242. DOI: 10.4103/0019-5545.171848. View

12.

Ellis T, Dickey 3rd T, Jones E . Patient suicide in psychiatry residency programs : a national survey of training and postvention practices. Acad Psychiatry. 2014; 22(3):181-9. DOI: 10.1007/BF03341922. View

13.

Sudak D, Roy A, Sudak H, Lipschitz A, Maltsberger J, Hendin H . Deficiencies in suicide training in primary care specialties: a survey of training directors. Acad Psychiatry. 2007; 31(5):345-9. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ap.31.5.345. View

14.

Srivastava A . Psychological attributes and socio-demographic profile of hundred completed suicide victims in the state of Goa, India. Indian J Psychiatry. 2013; 55(3):268-72. PMC: 3777349. DOI: 10.4103/0019-5545.117147. View

15.

Cheng A . Mental illness and suicide. A case-control study in east Taiwan. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1995; 52(7):594-603. DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.1995.03950190076011. View

16.

Didham R, Dovey S, Reith D . Characteristics of general practitioner consultations prior to suicide: a nested case-control study in New Zealand. N Z Med J. 2007; 119(1247):U2358. View

17.

PIRKIS J, Burgess P . Suicide and recency of health care contacts. A systematic review. Br J Psychiatry. 1999; 173:462-74. DOI: 10.1192/bjp.173.6.462. View

18.

Vijaykumar L . Suicide and its prevention: The urgent need in India. Indian J Psychiatry. 2010; 49(2):81-4. PMC: 2917089. DOI: 10.4103/0019-5545.33252. View

19.

Nutting P, Dickinson L, Rubenstein L, Keeley R, Smith J, Elliott C . Improving detection of suicidal ideation among depressed patients in primary care. Ann Fam Med. 2005; 3(6):529-36. PMC: 1466930. DOI: 10.1370/afm.371. View

20.

Khan F, Anand B, Devi M, Murthy K . Psychological autopsy of suicide-a cross-sectional study. Indian J Psychiatry. 2010; 47(2):73-8. PMC: 2918303. DOI: 10.4103/0019-5545.55935. View