Therapeutic Difficulties in Dealing with Suicidal Behaviour in Treatment Addiction Programmes

Abstract Suicidal behaviour is a therapeutic target in the treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs) because of its high prevalence. As such, it is expected that clinicians are confident in addressing suicidal behaviour. However, there is a paucity of research examining clinicians’ perspectives on suicidal behaviour interventions. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, difficulties, and needs perceived by professionals dealing with SUD in the Navarre region. A sample of 47 professionals completed the scales to assess knowledge and attitudes towards suicidal behaviour and perceived difficulties in intervening. The results showed that professionals had a low level of knowledge about suicide, but in general, they did not report prejudiced or stigmatized attitudes towards suicidal behaviour. Most professionals had been in contact with patients who had made one or more lifetime suicide attempts ( n = 44, 95.7%), had experienced the suicide of one of their patients ( n = 23, 52.3%), or had worked with patients at risk of suicide under their supervision ( n = 42, 89.4%). Most clinicians reported that they had received inadequate training in how to address suicidal behaviour ( n = 46, 97.9%), and thirty-two (68.1%) expressed a need for specific training on suicide. Among the specific professional difficulties reported by clinicians, technical difficulties were most often perceived as frequent. These results highlight the need for specific training in intervention strategies for understanding and managing suicidal behaviour, considering that clinicians working with patients with SUD have to address suicidal behaviour at some point in their professional practice.