AUTHOR=Kashiwagi Tomonori , Narita Kenji , Tsuyama Yusuke , Yonemoto Naohiro , Ishibashi Ryutaro , Kawanishi Chiaki 

TITLE=Attitudes of medical professionals towards high-risk suicidal patients

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1654240

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1654240

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=AimSuicide is a serious global public health challenge recognised as a high priority by the World Health Organization. Knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals and first responders play a critical role in suicide prevention. This study aimed to clarify attitudes and influencing factors among paramedics, nurses, and social workers in Japan.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey between 2015 and 2022 using a self-administered paper questionnaire. The Japanese version of the Attitudes Toward Suicide scale assessed six factors using a five-point Likert scale. A linear regression model was used to analyse variations associated with age, gender, profession, and experience.ResultsAmong 685 respondents, 443 provided valid responses (paramedics: 34.8%, nurses: 38.8%, social workers: 26.4%). Paramedics were more likely than social workers to regard suicide as an unjustified act (β = 0.474, 95% CI: 0.167–0.780, P = 0.003) and as a threat (β = 0.450, 95% CI: 0.142–0.757, P = 0.004), and less likely to think suicide can happen to anyone (β = −0.640, 95% CI: −0.855–−0.425, P < 0.001). Nurses regarded suicide as a threat (β = 0.394, 95% CI: 0.134–0.653, P = 0.003) and as an impulsive act (β = 0.220, 95% CI: 0.024–0.416, P = 0.028).ConclusionAlthough we found differences in attitudes towards suicide between health professionals, there were also many commonalities. By holding workshops with a wide range of professionals, and deepening mutual understanding, it may be possible to implement seamless suicide prevention measures.