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Indo-Canadian Collaboration for Suicide Prevention: Training Needs Assessment for Healthcare Professionals in India

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Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment of primary healthcare professionals in order to develop a training program aimed at enhancing competencies in suicide risk assessment and management. A total of 144 primary healthcare professionals (physicians = 46; primary care workers = 98) completed the needs assessment questionnaire. The majority of healthcare professionals rated their level of comfort and competence in assessing, treating, and referring suicidal patients as medium or high. However, their knowledge about suicide, risk factors for suicide, asking about suicidal behaviour, and helping a suicidal patient was rated low or medium. Overall, the scarcity of qualified healthcare professionals and the existing gaps in core competencies for suicide risk assessment and management was identified. Development of innovative and effective competencies-based suicide specific training for primary care providers in India is urgently required.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, ON, Canada

    Ravi Shah, Rahel Eynan, Amresh Srivastava, Leanna Reiss & Paul S. Links

  2. Department of Psychiatry, JSS University, Mysore, India

    T. S. Sathyanarayana Rao

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Seth G S Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, India

    Shubhangi Parkar & Kranti Kadam

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Indus University, Ahmedabad, India

    Lakshman Dutt

  5. Lawson Health Research Institute, 750 Baseline Rd, Suite 105-5, London, ON, N6C 2R5, Canada

    Ravi Shah

Authors
  1. Ravi Shah
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  2. Rahel Eynan
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  3. Amresh Srivastava
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  4. Leanna Reiss
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  5. T. S. Sathyanarayana Rao
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  6. Shubhangi Parkar
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  9. Paul S. Links
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Correspondence to Ravi Shah.

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Shah, R., Eynan, R., Srivastava, A. et al. Indo-Canadian Collaboration for Suicide Prevention: Training Needs Assessment for Healthcare Professionals in India. Community Ment Health J 52, 511–518 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-015-9895-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-015-9895-z

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