Suicide intervention skills in health professionals: A multidisciplinary comparison

Aim of the study: Training in the recognition and management of suicidal risk is of crucial importance for prevention. The aim of our study was to compare competence in assessing and managing suicidal patients in different groups of Italian health professionals. Materials and methods: Two hundred and thirty two professionals completed the Suicide Intervention Response Inventory (SIRI-2) and a questionnaire on perceptions of risk and protective factors in suicidal patients. Results and conclusions: Exposure to suicidal patients was found to be widespread in all groups, but specific training in suicide assessment and intervention was conspicuously rare. Psychiatrists outscored all other groups. Taken together, our findings suggest the necessity of further training in suicide intervention for Italian health professionals, and especially for emergency service personnel and general practitioners.