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KMID : 1151020200480040005
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Mental Health & Social Work
2020 Volume.48 No. 4 p.5 ~ p.33
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An exploratory study on the experience of client-suicide among community-based helping professionals participating in the suicide prevention coalition
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Yu Je-Chun
Shim Woo-Chan
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Abstract
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This qualitative study explores experiences of helping professionals before and after their clients’ suicide incidents. Data were collected from focus group interviews with 9 community-based helping professionals involved in the suicide prevention coalition of D metropolitan city. The result shows that the clients whom study participants lost from suicide had very weak social network and were in physical pain and poverty. The study participants saw as a pattern in their clients’ life that the weak community care case management system along with the residual welfare system ultimately led into their clients’ suicide. Their first emotional reaction towards their clients’ suicide was ‘not much emotion at all’ which was followed by strong cognitive reactions, ‘regrets and guilt.’ As more time passed, they felt more confused as to how to react to clients’ suicide and how to deal with their reactions. Regardless of their peers’ support, clients’ suicide continued and their work condition permitted no time to rest, which led to feelings of skepticism towards suicide prevention programs. Study participants’ life was surrounded by ‘professionalism’ which framed them to react ‘professionally’ and resolve their emotion ‘without fuss.’ They suggested mandating counseling services and time off for helping professionals who experienced clients’ suicide. They also suggested having a paired-team approach to enhance effectiveness in the suicide prevention case management system. Based on the findings, several policy implications are discussed.
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KEYWORD
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suicide prevention, helping professional, client suicide, qualitative study, context and pattern analysis
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Listed journal information
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