Patients Admitted to ICU After a Suicide Attempt

The goal of this study is to increase the knowledge on the experience and symptom profile to suicide attempters admitted to an ICU. Suicide is one of the most frequent causes of death in young age groups in Norway, and the rates has not decreased in Norway in 20 years despite governmental and health care actions when it comes to prevention, knowledge and treatment. The medically most serious suicide attempts need treatment in intensive care units (ICU). In addition, being an ICU patient is associated with the experience of several traumatic events and symptoms related to treatment. These experiences often have a negative impact on their quality-of-life post discharge. In addition, patients who have tried to end their life often have experienced negative life events prior to the suicide attempt. A systematic review conducted on attitudes towards people who self-harm, pointed out inappropriate staff behaviour, lack of patient-involvement, poor knowledge among the health care professionals and issues with aftercare to this particular patient group. Healthcare personnel are important stakeholders in suicide prevention, but they can experience lack of confidence when caring for suicidal patients and negative attitudes have an impact on access to treatment. Building knowledge addressing mental health stigma and negative attitudes is possible with training and education. As there are little evidence regarding the experience, symptom profile and the follow up for this specific sub-group of the ICU population, this project aims to investigate three aspects affecting the suicide attempt patient in the ICU; First, the symptom burden of suicide attempt patients experienced both in the ICU and post-discharge during 6 months will be examined. Second, the ICU nurses' attitudes towards the suicide attempt patient will be explored. Finally, after ICU discharge the patients feeling of hopelessness and other symptoms will be investigated, and the general experience as an ICU patien