Emergency staff reactions to suicidal and self-harming patients.
Staff in the emergency departments of hospitals are reported as being negative or ambivalent toward suicidal or self-harming individuals. According to the literature, these patients are subjected to stigmatization and lack of empathy. This phenomenon has been linked to a decreased quality of care offered to these individuals and to missing an important opportunity to prevent further suicidal behavior or repetition of deliberate self-harm. Also, protocols, proper guidelines and education for the emergency staff call for a revision and an implementation. In this paper, evidence suggesting staff attitudes toward suicidal and self-harming patients is reviewed. An overview of related issues such as clinical judgment, the use of scales and nurses' role is also included in this report.
Pompili
Maurizio
M
Department of Psychiatry, Sant'Andrea Hospital, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. maurizio.pompili@uniroma1.it
Girardi
Paolo
P
Ruberto
Amedeo
A
Kotzalidis
Giorgio D
GD
Tatarelli
Roberto
R
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D004645:Empathy; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D013240:Stereotyping; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D000078329:Workforce