Self-care and the perceived impact of working with people with suicidal ideation on clinical psychologists

Bibliographic Data

ID21101736
AuthorsAna Nunes da Silva (0000-0001-7125-716X, University of Lisbon, corresponding author), Carlota Baila (0009-0002-9381-9375, University of Lisbon)
Year2026
Pages1-11
Publication date2026-06-30
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueDeath Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0748-1187 • E-ISSN: 1091-7683
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/07481187.2026.2695287
PMID42381197
OpenAlexW7166894640
LanguageEN
References cited42

This study explored how clinical psychologists experience and manage the emotional impact of working with clients presenting suicidal ideation or coping with a client's death by suicide, as well as the self-care strategies they use and the barriers they encounter. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten clinical psychologists and analyzed using thematic analysis. Participants described this work as highly demanding, involving challenges in maintaining emotional boundaries and a strong sense of responsibility, while also being experienced as professionally meaningful. Anticipating suicide was associated with fear and anxiety, whereas actual suicide elicited grief, sadness, and self-doubt. All participants emphasized the importance of self-care, reporting strategies such as supervision, intervision, and personal psychotherapy. Barriers included emotional overload, time constraints, and difficulty disengaging from clients' suffering. Overall, the findings highlight the coexistence of emotional burden and professional meaning, underscoring the need for both individual coping strategies and systemic support to sustain clinicians' well-being

Coping (psychology) · Injury prevention · Occupational safety and health · Poison control · Suicidal ideation · Suicide prevention · Thematic analysis · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies

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