Therapists' reaction to patient's suicide – results of a survey and implications for health care professionals' wellbeing

Context: A substantial proportion of therapists will experience at some point of their professional life the loss of a patient to suicide. Objectives: To assess a) the impact of a patient's suicide on therapists distress and wellbeing over time, b) which factors contribute to the reaction and c) which subgroup might need special interventions in the aftermath of suicide. Design: A 63 item questionnaire, characterizing the therapists, their reactions and the patients was developed and sent out. Setting: All 185 Psychiatric Clinics at General Hospitals in Germany. Participants: Therapists (psychiatrists, psycholog…