RANZCP homepage
Date
27 March 2024
Organised by
RANZCP EventsPatient suicide is a reality for psychiatrists and trainees and can have profound long-term wellbeing impacts. There is a pretence that assessment and prediction of suicide is part of the role of a psychiatrist. However, this misconception only sets us up for failure and detracts from our primary role which is therapeutic engagement to improve quality of life.
This webinar will confront the ‘truth’ about patient suicide. Dr Gibbons will share her own experiences with patient suicide and how this defined her psychiatric career. After hearing over 1000 accounts of suicide loss through her ongoing confidential peer support group, Dr Gibbons will reveal the ‘truths’ about suicide which challenge conventional understandings of the concept.
This presentation will also provide an overview of the current research and link this with the psychodynamic understanding of suicide. Dr Gibbons will offer insights on how therapeutic engagement can increase our capacity to identify distress and address it with an open heart.
This webinar is supported by the RANZCP Member Wellbeing Subcommittee.
Presentation
Speakers
Dr Rachel Gibbons
Dr Rachel Gibbons has worked in the UK’s National Health Service for the past 20 years as a consultant psychiatrist and medical psychotherapist in various psychiatric settings.
She is the current Co-Chair of the Patient Safety Group, Chair of the Effect of Suicide and Homicide on Psychiatrists Working Group and Vice-Chair of the Psychotherapy Faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists. For the past 14 years, Dr Gibbons has facilitated a Suicide Group for consultant psychiatrists.
Following the death of a patient by suicide, Dr Gibbons developed the first guidelines for all mental health organisations addressing the pastoral care of staff. This guidance now forms part of England’s new National Suicide Prevention Strategy.
In recent times, Dr Gibbons has also published four papers on the effect of suicide on clinicians and is co-editor of the Royal College of Psychiatrists book ‘Seminars in the psychotherapies’. Her most recent paper, ‘Eight ‘truths’ about suicide’ was published in the BJPsych Bulletin in September 2023.
Dr Rachel Gibbons has worked in the UK’s National Health Service for the past 20 years as a consultant psychiatrist and medical psychotherapist in various psychiatric settings.
She is the current Co-Chair of the Patient Safety Group, Chair of the Effect of Suicide and Homicide on Psychiatrists Working Group and Vice-Chair of the Psychotherapy Faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists. For the past 14 years, Dr Gibbons has facilitated a Suicide Group for consultant psychiatrists.
Following the death of a patient by suicide, Dr Gibbons developed the first guidelines for all mental health organisations addressing the pastoral care of staff. This guidance now forms part of England’s new National Suicide Prevention Strategy.
In recent times, Dr Gibbons has also published four papers on the effect of suicide on clinicians and is co-editor of the Royal College of Psychiatrists book ‘Seminars in the psychotherapies’. Her most recent paper, ‘Eight ‘truths’ about suicide’ was published in the BJPsych Bulletin in September 2023.
Additional resources
For health services – supporting staff after patient suicide
Coping with patient suicide as a supervisor
Coping with patient suicide during psychiatry training
Guidance booklets co-authored by Dr Gibbons and endorsed by the Royal College of Psychiatrists UK
If a patient dies by suicide – a resource for psychiatrists
If a patient dies by suicide – a resource for mental health professionals
The UK National Suicide Prevention Strategy (2023-28), that includes guidelines for mental health organisations, developed by Dr Gibbons
Publications by Dr Gibbons
"Ashamed and alone”—healthcare staff need better support after a patient’s suicide’, British Medical Journal (19 September 2023)
‘Eight ‘truths’ about suicide’, BJPsych Bulletin (14 September 2023)
‘After a patient dies by suicide: an illustrative case for trainee psychiatrists and trainers’, BJPsych Bulletin (16 November 2021)
‘Effects of patient suicide on psychiatrists: survey of experiences and support required’, BJPsych Bulletin (11 April 2019)
Disclaimer
This session is a Member benefit of the RANZCP and for educational purposes only. The information may represent views of the author and not necessarily the views of the College. Information is subject to change and the College does not warrant that the information is current at the time of viewing and accepts no liability for any loss or damage suffered by you or a patient directly or indirectly as a result of relying on information provided and should not be a substitute for individual clinical judgement. By accessing e-learning sessions you also agree to the RANZCP Website Terms of Use Agreement.
