Indo-Canadian Collaboration for Suicide Prevention: Training Needs Assessment for Healthcare Professionals in India.

Indo-Canadian Collaboration for Suicide Prevention: Training Needs Assessment for Healthcare Professionals in India.
Community Ment Health J. 2015 May 26;
Authors: Shah R, Eynan R, Srivastava A, Reiss L, Sathyanarayana Rao TS, Parkar S, Dutt L, Kadam K, Links PS
Abstract
The main purpose of the study was to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment of primary healthcare professionals in order to develop a training program aimed at enhancing competencies in suicide risk assessment and management. A total of 144 primary healthcare professionals (physicians = 46; primary care workers = 98) completed the needs assessment questionnaire. The majority of healthcare professionals rated their level of comfort and competence in assessing, treating, and referring suicidal patients as medium or high. However, their knowledge about suicide, risk factors for suicide, asking about suicidal behaviour, and helping a suicidal patient was rated low or medium. Overall, the scarcity of qualified healthcare professionals and the existing gaps in core competencies for suicide risk assessment and management was identified. Development of innovative and effective competencies-based suicide specific training for primary care providers in India is urgently required.
PMID: 26007647 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Community Mental Health Journal - May 26, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Shah R, Eynan R, Srivastava A, Reiss L, Sathyanarayana Rao TS, Parkar S, Dutt L, Kadam K, Links PS Tags: Community Ment Health J Source Type: research