Existential themes in the treatment of people at suicide risk. Understandings and practices of specialist healthcare professionals |
| |
Authors: | Ane Inger Bondahl Søberg Sigrid Helene Kjørven Haug Lars Johan Danbolt Lars Lien Torgeir Sørensen |
| |
Affiliation: | 1. Center for Psychology of Religion, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Ottestad, Norwayaneingerbondahl.soberg@sykehuset-innlandet.no;3. Center for Psychology of Religion, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Ottestad, Norway;4. Inlandet Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway;5. Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society, Oslo, Norway;6. Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Concurrent Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders Department of Mental Health, Innlandet Hopsital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway;7. VID Specialized University, Oslo, Norway |
| |
Abstract: | ABSTRACTThis qualitative study focuses on the ways in which existential themes were understood and addressed in therapeutic relationships with patients who had attempted suicide. Health care professionals (HCP) from Norway specialist healthcare participated in focus groups. The interviews were transcribed and analysed by systematic text-condensation through a four-step procedure. We found that the HCPs emphasised the context-specific functions of their departments. They considered these conversations essential but demanding. They indicated existential themes of hope/hopelessness, loneliness, meaning, life/death, shame, religion and suicide. The HCPs’ understandings of themes deemed to be existential and how they should be addressed were primarily based on clinical experience. This appeared to exacerbate the pressure on their personal involvement, leading to the question of whether patients’ existential needs are tackled or instead disappear into a conversational vacuum. The study suggests that HCPs' professional competence of existential themes pertaining to patients at suicide risk needs to be strengthened. |
| |
Keywords: | Existential themes patients at suicide risk conversation understandings specialist healthcare professionals practice |
|
|