Suicide-Preventive Activities in Psychiatric Care: Evaluation of an Educational Programme in Suicide Prevention

29 key persons from 11 psychiatric intervention clinics in Stockholm County attended a postgraduate education programme in suicide prevention. In 9 clinics, a wide range of activities had been implemented as a result of the programme. The key people seemed to have succeeded in pinpointing the key elements in suicide prevention – the need for specific knowledge about the suicidal process & for well-defined suicide prevention routines. However, organizational factors & staff turnover were obstacles to maintaining & making the activities routine. There is a need to strengthen participants’ formal roles as implementers & to encourage clinical management in the continuous implementation of the activities. (47 refs.) JA