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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2024

Open Access 01-12-2024 | Suicide | Research

Preventing post-discharge suicides in psychiatric patients: insights from patients, lay healthcare supporters, and mental health professionals—a qualitative analysis

Authors: Tiantian Fu, Huiming Liu, Chang Chen, Bin Zhang, Guanjie Chen, Yuanhan Bai, Jinghua Li, Fengsu Hou

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2024

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Abstract

Background

Discharged psychiatric patients are at higher risk of suicide due to various risk factors in their lives compared to the general population. However, specific problems and needs of these patients after discharge remain unclear. This research constitutes a segment of a broader implementation study designed to formulate an interventional strategy targeting post-discharge suicide among Chinese psychiatric patients. The present study seeks to qualitatively investigate the problems and needs from the perspectives of patients, their lay healthcare supporters (LHSs), and mental health professionals (MPs), aiming to enhance the efficacy of the interventional strategy.

Methods

This study is part of a larger implementation study based on Shenzhen Kangning Hospital (SKH) in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. Under the community-based participatory research framework, we recruited discharged psychiatric patients, their LHSs, and MPs as a collaborative community team, and we conducted individual in-depth interviews for patients and LSHs and focus group interviews with MPs. We utilized a thematic analysis approach to identify sub-themes and themes from interviews through systematically coding and analyzing the data.

Results

A total of 45 participants were recruited for interviews, comprising 17 patients, 8 LHSs, and 20 MPs. We conducted 25 individual in-depth interviews and 3 focus group interviews. Through the interviews, we identified three themes of post-discharge problems: problems related to self, family-related problems, societal and community-related problems. We also identified four themes related to reducing post-discharge suicide: proactive self-management, multifunctional relatives, multifunctional MP group, and a warm society. The tangible support from LHSs and emotional support from MPs are strongly emphasized. Follow-up interventions were identified as the most significant way to addressing these unmet needs. Instrumental support from the community and a caring and non-discriminatory environment for individuals with mental disorders are essential for reducing suicide risk.

Conclusions

Establishing an integrated mental health care service network that connects psychiatric patients, LHSs, and MPs cross community and societal sectors, with patient-centered follow-up care at its core, is a practical approach to better address patients’ needs and reduce post-discharge suicide.

Trial registration

Registration number: NCT04907669.
Date of registration: May 26th,2021.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
Preventing post-discharge suicides in psychiatric patients: insights from patients, lay healthcare supporters, and mental health professionals—a qualitative analysis
Authors
Tiantian Fu
Huiming Liu
Chang Chen
Bin Zhang
Guanjie Chen
Yuanhan Bai
Jinghua Li
Fengsu Hou
Publication date
01-12-2024
Publisher
BioMed Central
Keywords
Suicide
Suicide
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17475-w

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