Author/Editor		Farberow, Norman L
Title		The therapist-clinician as survivor
Type		članek
Source		In: Grad-Tekavčič O, editor. Suicide risk and protective factors in the new millennium. Ljubljana: Cankarjev dom,
Publication year		2001
Volume		str. 11-20
Language		eng
Abstract		Bereavement services for survivors in the field of suicide prevention have been slow in developing, but have shown signs of increasing over the last two decades. Mental health professionals had seemed reluctant to be involved but this too has begun to change, the result, in part, of growing recognition that a suicide death of a patient / client arouses in the therapist the same kind of feelings experienced by families and close friends when a loved one commits suicide. Research has shown the event not to be unusual with estimates of its occurrence ranging from 22% to 51%. However, in addition to the common feelings of loss, grief, guilt, anger, depression, shock, denial, etc. there are reactions inherent to the therapist's role, such as self-doubts about clinical competence, concerns over therapeutic skills, fear of blame by family and colleagues, fear of litigation, and others. The event has even greater impact when it occurs during graduate training of residents, interns and graduate students with anxiety and fear of loss of approval of supervisors and faculty. Recommendations most often include attention to staffing and policies for training institutions, hospitals and clinics with immediate postvention procedures that address the emotional needs of the therapist and staff directly involved. Therapists in individual practice may have to overcome deep-seated cultural attitudes to find help but may do so through collegial consultation or, if possible, a return to their own therapists. The clinician who becomes the survivor of a patient / client suicide who first attends to his own emotional needs will find his ability to help others greatly increased.
Descriptors		SUICIDE BEREAVEMENT PHYSICIAN-PATIENT RELATIONS