Depression and Anxiety Predict Healthcare Workers’ Understanding of and Willingness to Help Suicide Attempt Patients

Abstract

We examined whether burnout, depression, anxiety, stress, lifetime suicidal ideation, self-efficacy in preventing suicide and demographic factors predicted the understanding of and willingness to help suicidal patients among hospital healthcare workers. A total of 368 healthcare workers from the major surgical and medical departments in a general hospital setting were recruited. Participants responded to the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21, Self-efficacy in Suicide Prevention, and Understanding Suicide Attempt Patient Scale. Those from the psychiatric department, with higher suicide prevention self-efficacy, and lower personal accomplishment indicated more understanding and helpful attitudes; doctors, depressed and anxious healthcare workers reported less understanding and helpful attitudes. Suicide prevention efforts must be conducted in tandem with equipping and supporting the healthcare workers who manage suicidal patients.

Burnout among healthcare workers in a hospital calculated based on fourth edition

“…In another study conducted in Nigeria (21), General Health Questionnaire and Maslach Burnout Inventory were used where more than 40% had emotional exhaustion, more than half had depersonalization and more than 60% had reduced personal accomplishment among doctors. There was another study conducted in Malaysia to assess risk factors and psychological distress among workers in healthcare (22). In the cross-sectional study, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Maslach Burnout Inventory were distributed among the healthcare workers showed more than half of the doctors, more than a quarter of medical assistants and nurses and almost 17% of attendants were found to be burnout, χ 2 = 27.92, p< 0.001 and also more than half of nurses and attendants, 70% of doctors and more than 40% of medical assistants were found to be psychologically distress, χ 2 = 8.55,p = 0.036.…”