Abstract
Objective: This research aimed to assess the frequency and impact of client suicides on psychologists in Australia.
Method: Participants were 178 psychologists who completed an online self-report questionnaire concerning the frequency of occurrence and impact of client suicide.
Results: Fifty six (31.5%) participants reported one or more client suicides. Psychologists with more years of experience reported more client suicides. Participants who had experienced a client suicide reported a range of emotional, cognitive and behavioural reactions as well as professional impacts. Ratings of responsibility, preventability and predictability of a client suicide were associated with emotional and/or professional impacts. Beneficial coping responses included talking to supervisors and colleagues, recognising the psychologist is not responsible and having increased acceptance of a client suicide.
Conclusions: The findings have important implications for training, workplace practices and research.
Method: Participants were 178 psychologists who completed an online self-report questionnaire concerning the frequency of occurrence and impact of client suicide.
Results: Fifty six (31.5%) participants reported one or more client suicides. Psychologists with more years of experience reported more client suicides. Participants who had experienced a client suicide reported a range of emotional, cognitive and behavioural reactions as well as professional impacts. Ratings of responsibility, preventability and predictability of a client suicide were associated with emotional and/or professional impacts. Beneficial coping responses included talking to supervisors and colleagues, recognising the psychologist is not responsible and having increased acceptance of a client suicide.
Conclusions: The findings have important implications for training, workplace practices and research.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 23-32 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Australian Psychologist |
| Volume | 53 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 2018 |
