Nurses' experiences of patient suicide and suicide attempts in an acute unit

Abstract

Suicide and suicide attempts in Ireland have increased dramatically in the last twenty years. Many of the presentations of suicide attempts to Emergency Departments are recommended an admission to an acute mental health unit. A psychiatric staff nurse working in an acute mental health setting has a high chance of experiencing a patient suicide or suicide attempt during their career. The occurrence of an inpatient suicide or suicide attempt is unquestionably an overwhelmingly stressful and devastating event for psychiatric nursing staff. Vicarious traumas are serious manifestations of workplace stress and can have substantial consequences for health care professionals. Support services are minimal for psychiatric staff at present and as a result recent reports recommend that staff support should be developed further. This study aims to describe psychiatric nurses’ experience of suicide and suicide attempts in an acute unit and explores their perceptions of the support they received post-incident.