The Impact of Patient Suicide on Trainees and Supervisors

Duration: 32 mins Publication Date: 14 Mar 2025 Next Review Date: 14 Mar 2028 DOI: 10.13056/acamh.13809

Description

The death of a patient by suicide is a tragic and challenging experience, not just for families but also for the clinicians involved in the care of the individual. We will discuss how trainees and supervisors experience the loss of a patient due to suicide, and the preparedness of supervisors about providing supervision in such circumstance. We will highlight factors that influence how the experience is processed, what supervision can accomplish, and recommendations that can assist supervisors in supporting trainees and themselves. Suicide of a patient, especially a young person, is seldom discussed as part of institutional cultures. We aim to highlight the challenges clinicians and trainees will face as they navigate their own loss, and grief.

Learning Objectives

A. To understand the experiences of both trainees and supervisors in the event of patient suicide

B. To identify the factors that influence the experience of the trainees and supervisors when a patient suicide occurs

C. To recognize the key aspects of support and supervision needed for trainees in the event of patient suicide

About this Lesson

Topics:

Audiences:

Health Care Professionals

Populations:

Symptoms:

none

Publication Type:

Interviews

Level:

In Practice

Speakers

Zheala Qayyum

MD, MMSc Training Director, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Boston Children’s Hospital Associate Training Director, Triple Board Residency Program, Boston Children’s Hospital-Tufts Medical Center Associate Director of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry & Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

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