Telangana Journal of Psychiatry

A study of attitude towards suicide prevention among non-mental health care providers

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Article Type : Original Article

Author Details: Hemendra Singh, Megha N Shalavadi, Murali Thyloth

Volume : 3

Issue : 1

Online ISSN : 2455-8559

Print ISSN :

Article First Page : 23

Article End Page : 27

Abstract

Introduction: Increase in suicide rate is a major concern. Most suicide attempters approach health professionals for treatment. A negative attitude of these professionals toward these patients can be a major barrier for management. This study aims at assessing the attitude of non-mental health care providers towards suicide prevention.
Materials and Method: One hundred and seventy five health care providers were approached to participate in this study during awareness creation symposium for suicide prevention, which was held on World Suicide Prevention Day. An attitude toward suicide prevention scale was administered to the participants and comparison of various variables was done with non mental health care providers those who have not attended awareness programme.
Results: Mean age of participants was 29.24 (±8.62). The majority of them were doctors and Post graduate medical students including interns, 50.3% and 32% respectively. More than half (60%) of them had a positive attitude toward working with suicidal patients. Nearly 70% of the participants did not consider unemployment and poverty as the main causes of suicide, and were positively inclined towards suicide prevention measures. At the same time, nearly half of them were of the view that in the majority of the cases suicidal persons will not reveal their suicide plans to others.
Conclusions: More than half of the non mental health care providers had a positive attitude toward working with suicidal patients. There is thus a need to create awareness on suicide prevention and to integrate health professionals across all areas in efforts at suicide prevention.

Keywords: Suicide, Non-Mental Health Providers, Suicide Prevention Programme

Doi No:-10.18231