Survey highlights need for more training in suicide prevention

The need for additional training for workers in the area of suicide and its prevention is the focus of a new study carried out at Trinity College Dublin.

Although a higher percentage of counselling psychologists consider themselves adequately trained and capable of working effectively with people at risk of suicide, other members of the caring professions would welcome further training in the area, according to the research.

The survey, entitled Attitudes towards Suicide and its Prevention, was conducted by MSc student in counselling psychology, Aisling Murphy, and supervised by counselling psychologist and lecturer at Trinity College, Barbara Hannigan, and Carmel McAuliffe of the National Suicide Research Foundation.

The participants included those at master's level training in counselling psychology, trained counselling psychologists working in the area of employment assistance, care-workers with young offenders in a secure unit and community workers in substance abuse.

The study found that while the majority of the population was undecided as to whether the myths surrounding suicide were true or false, 70-80 per cent of the professionals surveyed strongly disagreed with them. Lecturer Barbara Hannigan said this showed that those working in the area had a greater level of insight into suicidal behaviour and suicidal thoughts than the population, as would be expected.

Some of the myths surrounding suicide, she said, were that once a person had made up their mind about suicide, nobody could stop them; that suicide happens without warning; and that people who talked about suicide didn't complete it.

There was some disagreement among those surveyed as to whether suicide was preventable, but Ms Hannigan said this might be attributable to the high level of suicidal behaviour they were exposed to through their work.

Of those surveyed, 91 per cent had worked with people with suicidal thoughts, 20 per cent had worked with patients who completed suicide and 64 per cent had experienced deliberate self- harm in a professional capacity.

"It really is important that professionals are aware of their duty of care, are cognisant of current literature and appropriate protocols and practices in the prevention of suicide," Ms Hannigan said. "In terms of best practice in the caring professions, people should always be aware of the need for continued training and development."

With 451 people dying of suicide in Ireland in 2004, suicide has been identified as a major public health problem. The National Registry of Deliberate Self Harm shows that last year 8,600 people attempted suicide or engaged in deliberate self-harm in Ireland, resulting in 11,100 hospital admissions.