Dealing with the Aftermath: A Qualitative Analysis of Mental Health Social Workers' Reactions After a Client Suicide‪.‬

As the 13th leading cause of death worldwide, suicide is a global health concern (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2004). In the United States, it is the 11th leading cause of death and continues to be a major problem, especially among high-risk populations including adolescents, men, and older adults (CDC). The effects of suicide are far reaching, affecting not only families, but others with whom the individual has come into contact, including mental health professionals. Mental health professionals who work with suicidal clients often experience intense reactions in the aftermath of a traumatic event, such as a client suicide completion. Researchers indicate that mental health professionals who experience a client suicide display varying psychological reactions (Chemtob, Hamada, Bauer, Torigoe, & Kinney, 1988; Chemtob, Bauer, Hamada, Pelowski, & Muraoka, 1989; Farber, 1983; Jacobson, Ting, Sanders, & Harrington, 2004; Jacobson, Ting, & Sanders, 2004; Litman, 1965). Much of the literature on the professional consequences of client suicide has focused on the reactions of psychologists and psychiatrists; research on social workers has been limited. Usng qualitative research methods, the present study assessed the reactions experienced by a group of mental health social workers following a client suicide.