TY - JOUR
T1 - Working with young people at risk of suicidal behaviour and self-harm
T2 - A qualitative study of australian general practitioners’ perspectives
AU - Bellairs-Walsh, India
AU - Byrne, Sadhbh J.
AU - Bendall, Sarah
AU - Perry, Yael
AU - Krysinska, Karolina
AU - Lin, Ashleigh
AU - Michail, Maria
AU - Lamblin, Michelle
AU - Li, Tina Yutong
AU - Hetrick, Sarah
AU - Robinson, Jo
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding: This work was supported by the WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) as part of the National Suicide Prevention Trial, through the Australian Government Primary Health Networks (PHN) Program. J.R. and A.L. are funded by National Health and Medical Research Council Career Development Fellowships (J.R.: 1142348; A.L.: 1148793). Y.P. is funded by The Giorgetta Charity Fund. S.B. is supported by The University of Melbourne Ronald Philip Griffiths Fellowship. S.H. is a Cure Kids Research Fellow and an Auckland Medical Research Foundation Douglas Goodfellow Repatriation Fellow.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
PY - 2021/12
Y1 - 2021/12
N2 - General Practitioners (GPs) play a crucial role in the identification and support of young people at risk of suicidal behaviour and self-harm; however, no studies have explored GPs’ perspectives, approaches, challenges, and resource needs when working with this cohort in an Australian setting. This was a qualitative study where fifteen GPs (Mage = 45.25 years) from multiple clinics in Western Australia took part in semi-structured interviews, and data were analysed thematically. Seven main themes were identified: (1) working with young people has its unique challenges; (2) screening and assessment tools can help to manage uncertainty and discomfort; (3) going beyond tools–the dialogue and relationship are most important; (4) there are limits to what we can offer in the time available; (5) the service access and referral pathways lack clarity and coordination; (6) the provision of mental health support should not fall on GPs alone; and (7) more comprehensive training in suicide and self-harm is needed. The findings highlight a number of opportunities to enhance care and better assist GPs working with young people who present with suicidal behaviour and self-harm, including considerations for conducting assessments, targeted resources such as training, and system and service improvements.
AB - General Practitioners (GPs) play a crucial role in the identification and support of young people at risk of suicidal behaviour and self-harm; however, no studies have explored GPs’ perspectives, approaches, challenges, and resource needs when working with this cohort in an Australian setting. This was a qualitative study where fifteen GPs (Mage = 45.25 years) from multiple clinics in Western Australia took part in semi-structured interviews, and data were analysed thematically. Seven main themes were identified: (1) working with young people has its unique challenges; (2) screening and assessment tools can help to manage uncertainty and discomfort; (3) going beyond tools–the dialogue and relationship are most important; (4) there are limits to what we can offer in the time available; (5) the service access and referral pathways lack clarity and coordination; (6) the provision of mental health support should not fall on GPs alone; and (7) more comprehensive training in suicide and self-harm is needed. The findings highlight a number of opportunities to enhance care and better assist GPs working with young people who present with suicidal behaviour and self-harm, including considerations for conducting assessments, targeted resources such as training, and system and service improvements.
KW - General practitioners
KW - Primary care
KW - Qualitative
KW - Risk assessment
KW - Self-harm
KW - Suicidal behaviour
KW - Suicide
KW - Young people
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85120707408&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/ijerph182412926
DO - 10.3390/ijerph182412926
M3 - Article
C2 - 34948536
AN - SCOPUS:85120707408
SN - 1661-7827
VL - 18
JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
IS - 24
M1 - 12926
ER -