New guidance helps GPs keep patients safe from suicide

Helping patients stay safe from suicide: 10 tips for GPs” offers clear, practical guidance to help GPs respond compassionately and effectively when someone presents with suicidal thoughts, plans or intent.

The guidance reinforces several essential principles, including:

• Listening attentively and acknowledging the person’s distress

• Asking directly and calmly about suicide

• Taking immediate action when there are concerns about someone’s safety

• Understanding the person’s story and mental pain

• Considering collaborative safety planning

• Involving people the patient trusts wherever possible

• Avoiding the use of checklists or tick-box approaches to predict suicide

• Connecting patients with appropriate local and national support

Importantly, the accompanying article also includes guidance on postvention: supporting GPs and practice teams following the death of a patient by suicide.

We are especially pleased to recognise the contribution of One Voice One Hope founding member Dr Sohrab Panday, whose work has helped bring greater attention to the profound impact a patient’s suicide can have on GPs and their colleagues.

This is a valuable and highly practical resource that deserves to be shared widely across primary care.

Read the full article and access the guidance here.