THE STRESS OF PATIENT SUICIDAL-BEHAVIOR - IMPLICATIONS FOR INTERNS AND TRAINING-PROGRAMS IN PSYCHOLOGY

Patient suicide and patient suicide attempts are frequently unexpected , sudden, and violent. They can have a significant emotional impact on the treating clinician, particularly if the clinician is still in a t raining status (cf. Kleespies, Penk, & Forsyth, 1993). An estimated 40 % of psychology trainees have a patient suicide (11.3%) or a patient s uicide attempt (29.1%) during their training years. A concept of syste matic response called psychological resynthesis (Resnick, 1969) is pro posed for psychology interns and training programs that must cope with the aftermath of a patient suicide or a serious patient suicide attem pt. Suggestions for suicide education and the preparation of trainees for the ''occupational hazard'' of patient suicidal behavior are discu ssed as part of a health-promotive approach to the training and clinic al work environment.