When a Patient Dies From Suicide: A Survey Among Mental Health Professionals in Israel

Or Cohen Ben Simon; Anat Brunstein Klomek; Yael Pomerance; Liza Idelman; Michal Lavidor; Yari Gvion

doi:10.1177/00302228231215841

When a Patient Dies From Suicide: A Survey Among Mental Health Professionals in Israel

Or Cohen Ben Simon
, Anat Brunstein Klomek
, Yael Pomerance
, Liza Idelman
, Michal Lavidor
, Yari Gvion

Department of Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Death of patients by suicide can have powerful impacts on mental health professionals (MHPs). The National Program for the Prevention of Suicidality and Suicide at Israel’s Ministry of Health decided to invest in MHPs who have lost patients by suicide. Two hundred and two MHPs completed an online self-report survey regarding their emotional response, professional identity, and clinical practice, and the aid they felt would be supportive following a patient’s suicide. Results indicated that 35% of MHP experienced at least one death of a patient by suicide. Respondents experienced difficult emotional reactions, and many felt responsible for the suicide. Nearly 50% reported that the patient’s suicide affected their clinical practice. Most respondents reported the need for a support framework and information about the processes following a patient’s suicide. It is important to increase awareness of the possibility of losing a patient by suicide and offer an appropriate supportive framework.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1944-1957
Number of pages	14
Journal	Omega: Journal of Death and Dying
Volume	92
Issue number	4
Early online date	21 Nov 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228231215841
State	Published - Mar 2026

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2023

Funding

The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This survey was partially financed by the Israel’s Ministry of Health, The National Program for the Prevention of Suicidality and Suicide.

Funders
Ministry of Health, State of Israel

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

mental health professional
patient suicide
postvention
suicide
support needs

Access to Document

10.1177/00302228231215841

Cite this

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title = "When a Patient Dies From Suicide: A Survey Among Mental Health Professionals in Israel",

abstract = "Death of patients by suicide can have powerful impacts on mental health professionals (MHPs). The National Program for the Prevention of Suicidality and Suicide at Israel{\textquoteright}s Ministry of Health decided to invest in MHPs who have lost patients by suicide. Two hundred and two MHPs completed an online self-report survey regarding their emotional response, professional identity, and clinical practice, and the aid they felt would be supportive following a patient{\textquoteright}s suicide. Results indicated that 35\% of MHP experienced at least one death of a patient by suicide. Respondents experienced difficult emotional reactions, and many felt responsible for the suicide. Nearly 50\% reported that the patient{\textquoteright}s suicide affected their clinical practice. Most respondents reported the need for a support framework and information about the processes following a patient{\textquoteright}s suicide. It is important to increase awareness of the possibility of losing a patient by suicide and offer an appropriate supportive framework.",

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When a Patient Dies From Suicide: A Survey Among Mental Health Professionals in Israel

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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Cite this