TY - BOOK

T1 - Suicide risk assessment and management

T2 - guidelines and experiences

AU - Pope, Dan

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - The current NHS long-term plan places an emphasis on the reduction of suicide, however suicide rates in England do not appear to be reducing. This thesis considers reasons for this, which may relate to inconsistent and incoherent published guidance, as well as psychosocial factors affecting clinicians who undertake suicide risk assessment and management, and discusses how these issues may be addressed. Section one presents a systematic policy review of guidelines and policy influencing suicide prevention in healthcare settings in England, considering the extent to which these could be considered consistent and coherent. 21 papers were located using systematic searches of three academic databases and several online archives. These were scrutinised using quality appraisal, thematic analysis of content and the generation of key areas of inconsistency. Overall quality of documentation was considered to be low. Key inconsistencies related to how guidance regarding conduct of individualised risk assessment and management, may be incompatible with other practical considerations and the context within which guidance is followed. Section two presents a qualitative study investigating the effects of exposure to service user attempted or completed suicide, on professionals’ subsequent conduct of suicide risk assessment and management. 10 mental health professionals were interviewed regarding their experiences of service user attempted or completed suicide and subsequent work with suicide risk, with data analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The study was informed by Perceptual Control Theory, which influenced the interview technique as well as analysis and discussion. Key findings related to how professionals were able to resolve difficulties through reflective methods and support, and conduct effective risk assessment and management going forward. A critical appraisal is presented in section three. This discussed key issues from sections one and two, including methodological considerations, strengths and limitations, relevance to clinical psychology and areas of future research.

AB - The current NHS long-term plan places an emphasis on the reduction of suicide, however suicide rates in England do not appear to be reducing. This thesis considers reasons for this, which may relate to inconsistent and incoherent published guidance, as well as psychosocial factors affecting clinicians who undertake suicide risk assessment and management, and discusses how these issues may be addressed. Section one presents a systematic policy review of guidelines and policy influencing suicide prevention in healthcare settings in England, considering the extent to which these could be considered consistent and coherent. 21 papers were located using systematic searches of three academic databases and several online archives. These were scrutinised using quality appraisal, thematic analysis of content and the generation of key areas of inconsistency. Overall quality of documentation was considered to be low. Key inconsistencies related to how guidance regarding conduct of individualised risk assessment and management, may be incompatible with other practical considerations and the context within which guidance is followed. Section two presents a qualitative study investigating the effects of exposure to service user attempted or completed suicide, on professionals’ subsequent conduct of suicide risk assessment and management. 10 mental health professionals were interviewed regarding their experiences of service user attempted or completed suicide and subsequent work with suicide risk, with data analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The study was informed by Perceptual Control Theory, which influenced the interview technique as well as analysis and discussion. Key findings related to how professionals were able to resolve difficulties through reflective methods and support, and conduct effective risk assessment and management going forward. A critical appraisal is presented in section three. This discussed key issues from sections one and two, including methodological considerations, strengths and limitations, relevance to clinical psychology and areas of future research.

U2 - 10.17635/lancaster/thesis/2790

DO - 10.17635/lancaster/thesis/2790

M3 - Doctoral Thesis

PB - Lancaster University

ER -