As mental health professionals, we dedicate our lives to healing others, guiding them through their most complex and challenging moments. Yet, an alarming reality lurks beneath the surface of our noble profession: we face a significantly elevated risk of suicide ourselves. This stark truth serves as a poignant reminder that even the healers need healing.
The reasons behind this elevated risk are complex and multifaceted. We hear stories of trauma, abuse, loss, and despair on a daily basis. While we are trained to manage this exposure, the cumulative effect can be profound. We absorb our clients’ and patients’ pain, often internalizing their struggles to better understand and support them. This can lead to compassion fatigue, burnout, vicarious trauma or secondary traumatic stress – all of which are significant risk factors for mental health challenges and suicidal ideation [1].
Recent research has shed light on the extent of this crisis. A study published in JAMA found that certain health care professionals, including those in mental health fields, face an increased risk of suicide compared to the general population. The relative increase in suicide risk was found to be greater for female than male health care professionals [2].
The nature of our work can be isolating, with the pressure to maintain professional boundaries sometimes bleeding into our personal lives. We may struggle to share our own vulnerabilities, fearing judgment or the perception of being “unfit” to practice. This silent suffering can exacerbate feelings of isolation and distress.
It’s crucial to acknowledge that mental health professionals are not immune to psychological distress and its cascading consequences. Factors such as professional burnout, self-stigma, therapeutic nihilism, chronic stress, and easy access to psychotropic medications can increase the risk of suicidality among mental health professionals [1].
To address this crisis, we must take proactive steps to prioritize our own mental health and well-being:
- Cultivate a supportive community: Connect with colleagues, friends, and family members who understand the demands of our profession and can offer emotional support. Sharing our experiences and vulnerabilities with others can help combat feelings of isolation.
- Establish healthy boundaries: Learn to say “no” to additional commitments and protect our time off. It’s essential to prioritize our own well-being and avoid overextending ourselves.
- Seek regular supervision and consultation: Talking with experienced colleagues about challenging cases and ethical dilemmas can provide valuable support and prevent burnout. Supervision offers a space to process our own emotional responses to client work and ensure we are maintaining appropriate boundaries.
- Challenge the stigma surrounding mental health within our profession: We must create a culture of openness and acceptance, where seeking help is seen as a sign of strength, not weakness. Let’s normalize conversations about mental health and encourage our colleagues to prioritize their well-being.
- Prioritize self-care: This is not a luxury, but a necessity. We must actively carve out time for activities that nourish our minds, bodies, and spirits. This may include exercise, mindfulness practices, spending time in nature, engaging in creative pursuits, or simply connecting with loved ones.
- Engage in individual therapy with us: Individual therapy provides a safe, confidential space for mental health professionals to process personal experiences with suicide. Working with specialized therapists like those at The Semicolon Group ensures care tailored to the unique demands of our profession.
We can also help you work with your high acuity clients by partnering with you to support them:
- Seek out experts in suicide safer care: Here at The Semicolon Group, we can help equip you with the knowledge you need to properly assess for suicide risk, teach you brief interventions you can use in session, help you understand imminent risk and when to refer for a higher level of care, and how to document to ensure you’re aligning with the ethical and legal responsibilities your licensing board requires. Utilizing us for clinical consultation for suicide prevention allows you to list us in your clinical notes and protects you from malpractice claims.
- Partner with us through Bridge Therapy: Referring your clients/patients to us for suicide-specific care means we help mitigate their acute suicide risk while they work concurrently with you for their ongoing care and overall well-being. Once their suicidal ideation (SI) is managed, they continue on with you – and you both have a partner to consult with if their SI comes back up again. They benefit from the support of two trusted professionals, and you benefit from knowing your client is in the best care possible when their presenting concerns are outside of your scope of practice or clinical comfort.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) emphasizes the importance of being proactive about our own health – both physical and mental – to maintain optimal, safe patient care. They advocate for reducing stigma, increasing resources, and having open conversations about mental health within the healthcare community [3].
If you are a mental health professional struggling with suicidal thoughts or overwhelming emotional distress, please know that you are not alone. There are resources available to help you. Reach out to a trusted colleague, supervisor, or mental health professional. Your life matters, and your well-being is essential not only to yourself but to those you serve.
Remember, taking care of ourselves is not selfish – it’s a crucial part of providing the best care possible to our clients and patients. By acknowledging our own vulnerabilities and seeking support when needed, we can create a healthier, more resilient mental health profession for all.
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If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 any time day or night.
Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they text 741741.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has resources to help if you need to find support for yourself or a loved one.
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References:
- Feldman DB, Freedenthal S. Social workers’ experiences with suicidal patients: Results of a national survey. Psychiatric News. 2023;330(12):1133-1141. doi:10.1176/appi.pn.2023.12.12.10.
- Dexter-Mazza ET, Freeman KA. Graduate training and the treatment of suicidal clients: The impact of training on perceived preparedness and competence. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. 2003;34(5):547-553. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.34.5.547.
- Sanders S, Jacobson JM, Ting L. Clinical social workers’ experiences of client suicide: Frequency, impact, and implications. Social Work. 2008;53(4):329-336. doi:10.1093/sw/53.4.329.
- Jacobson JM, Ting L, Sanders S, Harrington D. Prevalence of and reactions to client suicide: A national survey of mental health professionals. Omega (Westport). 2004;49(4):327-348.
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Suicide risk among healthcare professionals: A review of occupational factors contributing to elevated risk levels in psychologists and social workers in clinical settings.
- Antle BJ, Regehr C. Clinical social workers’ preparedness in assessing and treating suicidal clients: Implications for training and practice in graduate programs. Journal of Social Work Education. 2021;57(3):487-499.
