Deficiencies in suicide training in primary care specialties: A survey of training directors
Abstract
Objective A high percentage of suicide victims have seen a primary care physician in the months before committing suicide. Thus, primary care physicians may play an important role in suicide prevention.Method The authors mailed a survey to directors of training programs in family practice, internal medicine, and pediatrics, and 50.5% responded. Data obtained were analyzed with WebStat.Results Training directors reported deficiencies in training in suicide and depression. Notably, less than half of the internal medicine and pediatrics training directors who replied reported that teaching about suicide was adequate. The majority of them indicated a need for standardized curricular materials on suicide and depression.Conclusions Experts could provide standardized curricula to primary care residencies in the recognition and management of suicide and depression. More robust training about these vital mental health concerns in primary care could reduce morbidity and mortality.
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Recent surveys indicate that primary care providers frequently do not have sufficient training in suicide prevention and intervention.
“Despite being at the forefront of suicide prevention, recent surveys suggest that PCPs often lack adequate training in suicide prevention and intervention strategies.101-103”
From Evidence-based youth suicide prevention and intervention in pediatric primary care settings. (2024) · cites this paper as [101]
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- Authors
- Sudak, D., Roy, A., Sudak, H., Lipschitz, A., Maltsberger, J., & Hendin, H.
- Affiliations
- Drexel University (US)
- VA New Jersey Health Care System (US)
- Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (US)
- Wyeth (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (US)
- Corresponding author
- Roy, A.
- Venue
- Academic Psychiatry
- Published
- 2007-10-01
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 345-349
- ISSN
- 1042-9670 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2042740668
- Cited by
- 84
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 1.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Academic Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Innovations in Medical Education
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout
- Keywords
- suicide prevention, primary care residency, medical education, depression, training directors, family medicine residency, internal medicine residency, pediatric residency, standardized curriculum
- MeSH terms
- Suicide Prevention, Clinical Competence, Curriculum, Data Collection, Depressive Disorder, Family Practice, Health Services Needs and Demand, Humans, Internal Medicine, Internship and Residency, Physician Executives, Pediatrics, Physicians, Family, Surveys and Questionnaires, Suicide
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