ArticleBJPsych open2026
The impact of patient death and suicide on mental health professionals: mixed-methods study.
Article in BJPsych open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundAlthough all patient deaths affect clinicians, it remains unclear how the impact of suicides differs from other deaths. Is the trauma of losing a patient by suicide qualitatively distinct, or are the emotional, professional and organisational consequences of suicidal and non-suicidal deaths more similar than assumed?
aimsTo investigate the impact of patient suicide compared with other patient deaths on clinicians' psychological well-being, clinical practice and career. To explore clinicians' perspectives on how current support systems do, or do not, meet their needs.
methodA mixed-methods approach was used. An online survey with two subsets of questions (one for suicidal and one for non-suicidal patient deaths) was circulated to clinicians across South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
resultsA total of 122 responses were collected: two-thirds of respondents had experienced a patient suicide, with 53% reporting moderate and 12% reporting severe impact versus 36.6% reporting moderate and 4.2% severe for non-suicidal deaths. Non-suicidal death was associated with significantly lower impact (odds ratio 0.14, 95% CI [0.05, 0.41],
conclusionsPatient suicide has a heavier impact on clinicians, qualitatively distinct from other patient deaths. Blame shapes defensive responses in suicides, and internal questioning in non-suicidal deaths. The low-risk paradox and perceived unachievability of zero-suicide policies call for re-evaluation. Acknowledging predictability limits and clinicians' support needs can help systems navigate the complex impact of patient suicides.
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