Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

Article Title

Patient Suicide and Its Impact on the Therapist

Authors

Abstract

Patient suicide is shown to have a substantial impact on therapists' personal and professional lives. Although various populations are affected differently, psychologists, psychiatrists, and mental health social workers may experience intense emotions, such as depression, trauma, anger, and guilt after patient suicide. This literature review will explore the effects of patient suicide on both the personal and professional life of therapists, as well as identify methods of "postvention" that have been shown to be most helpful far the therapist. After experiencing patient suicide, therapists often gain a greater awareness of future patients' well-being and may change the way they practice. Therapists-in-training are shown to be particularly affected and are more likely to change their profession due to patient suicide than their more experienced colleagues. Strong support groups have been shown to be particularly important to therapists in the weeks and months fallowing patient suicide. Studies indicate that not all populations react or cope in the same way, indicating that research should be directed at developing postventions that cater to individual therapist's specific needs.

Recommended Citation

(2012) "Patient Suicide and Its Impact on the Therapist," Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology: Vol. 9: Iss. 1, Article 5.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/intuition/vol9/iss1/5