Attitudes and opinions toward suicide prevention among psychiatric doctors and nurses working in a mental health tertiary institution in Kenya

Abstract

Background: Suicide is defined here as an act of deliberately killing oneself. The current suicide rate in Kenya is 11.4/100,000 people. Doctors and nurses play an active part in the treatment and prevention of suicide.

Objectives: To assess the opinions and attitudes of psychiatric doctors and psychiatric nurses toward suicide and to explore any differences among them.

Study Design: Mixed method cross-sectional

Study Setting: Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital (MNRTH), a psychiatric hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, between October 2019 and November 2019.

Participants: Psychiatric doctors and psychiatric nurses

Interventions: Attitudes of the participants were assessed using a structured and validated instrument, the Attitudes to Suicide Prevention Scale (ASP). Opinions were assessed using a semi-structured interview guide.

Main Outcome Measures: Attitudes and opinions.

Results: Psychiatric doctors presented a more positive attitude toward suicide prevention than psychiatric nurses did. Older participants presented a more positive attitude toward suicide prevention than younger participants did. No significant differences were observed in terms of gender and length of service.

Conclusion: A replication of this study, with a larger sample size and more diverse types of mental healthcare professionals could result in identification of strategies to reduce the rates of suicides in Kenya.