Nurses’ and doctors’ perceptions of young people who engage in suicidal behaviour: a contemporary grounded theory analysis

Over the past 25 years, suicidal behaviour in young people has continued to be a major concern for health services around the world. Self-harm in individuals aged 13–18 is common and represents a significant reason for admission to accident and emergency departments, paediatric medical services and child and adolescent mental health services. Nurses’ and doctors’ working in these areas are the first point of contact for young people following an episode of self-harm. This paper presents a study exploring nurses and doctors perceptions of young people who engage in suicidal behaviour. The data presented form part of larger project conducted using both quantitative and qualitative methods, and a contemporary grounded theory approach to analysis. The findings revealed two main categories and associated subcategories: Experiences of frustration in practice (subcategories: non-therapeutic situations, insubstantiality of interventions and value of life) and strategies for relating to young people (sub-categories: specialist skills in care and reflections on own experience). The meanings of these categories highlight barriers in the relationship nurses and doctors have with young people who engage in suicidal behaviour. If suicide prevention policies around the world are to succeed the phenomena impacting on the communication between these professionals and young people needs to be addressed in research, education and in the development of practice.