Prevalence and impact of patient suicide in psychiatrists: Results from a national French web-based survey

Patient suicide (PS) is known to be a frequent and challenging occupational hazard for mental health professionals. No study previously explored the prevalence and impact of PS in a large sample of French psychiatrists. A national web-based survey was performed between September and December 2019 to assess (a) the prevalence of the exposure to PS, (b) the emotional, traumatic and professional impacts of PS, and (c) the perceived support in the aftermath of PS in French psychiatrists. Participants were contacted through email to answer the online 62-item questionnaire, including a measure of traumatic impact through the Impact of Event Scale-Revised. Emotional and professional impacts and perceived support were assessed through dedicated items. A total of 764 psychiatrists fully completed the survey. Of them, 87.3% reported an exposure to PS and 13.7% reported PTSD symptoms afterward. Guilt, sadness and shock were the most frequent emotions. Among the exposed psychiatrists, 15.1% have temporarily considered changing their career path. The most emotionally distressing PS occurred during their ten first years of practice or during residency. A total of 37.1% of respondents felt unsupported and 50.4% reported that no team meeting had been organized in the aftermath. The feeling of responsibility for the death was strongly associated with negative impacts. Our results entail considerations to prevent negative mental health outcomes in psychiatrists after PS. Notably, our results advocate for the implementation of educational programs during psychiatric residency and postvention programs in healthcare settings to effectively help psychiatrists in dealing with PS. L’exposition aux suicides de patients est une expérience fréquente et difficile pour les professionnels de la santé mentale, marquée par un potentiel impact traumatique, émotionnel et professionnel qui peut placer les professionnels exposés en grande vulnérabilité. Pour autant, aucune étude n’a jusqu’alors évalué la prévalence et l’impact du suicide d’un patient chez les psychiatres français. Une enquête nationale a été réalisée entre septembre et décembre 2019 afin d’évaluer chez les psychiatres français (a) la prévalence de l’exposition aux suicides de patients, (b) les impact traumatiques, émotionnels et professionnels de l’exposition au suicide d’un patient, et (c) le soutien reçu dans l’après-coup du suicide d’un patient. Les participants ont été contactés par mail pour répondre à un questionnaire