Gaps in suicide-related clinical competence across European psychiatric training: a multicountry study of trainees and early career psychiatrists

OBJECTIVE: Suicide prevention is a core competence in psychiatric practice, limited data are available on suicide-related knowledge among European psychiatric trainees and early career psychiatrists (ECPs). The study aimed to examine variation in knowledge and perceived suicide-related competence. METHODS: An online survey was conducted in a multicountry convenience sample of psychiatric trainees and ECPs across Europe from May 2024 to October 2025. Participants completed a questionnaire on exposure to patient suicide (PS) and related reactions/support, the Suicide Knowledge and Skills Questionnaire, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. RESULTS: A total of 259 psychiatric trainees and ECPs from 36 countries completed the survey. The mean percentage of correct responses in the suicide knowledge section of the SKSQ was 76.7%. Participants exposed to at least one PS showed higher knowledge scores than those not exposed. In regression models, suicide knowledge was positively associated with personal accomplishment, exposure to PS, and comfort in asking direct suicide-related questions. CONCLUSIONS: Findings reveal variability in suicide-related competence across European psychiatric training, suggesting the need to strengthen structured, skills-based suicide prevention training, regular supervision, and post-event support pathways. Such training should not rely on reactive learning after adverse clinical events, but should address both technical, emotional and ethical competencies of psychiatric practice.

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Publication Details

Journal
International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice
Published
2026-08-20
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/13651501.2026.2715438
Primary Topic
Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
Type
article
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article

Gaps in suicide-related clinical competence across European psychiatric training: a multicountry study of trainees and early career psychiatrists

Etienne K. Duranté, Serkan Turan, Daniele Cavaleri, Iliya Petkov Peyneshki et al.
International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice
Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
article

Gaps in suicide-related clinical competence across European psychiatric training: a multicountry study of trainees and early career psychiatrists

Etienne K. Duranté, Serkan Turan, Daniele Cavaleri, Iliya Petkov Peyneshki, Filipa Santos Martins, M. Purić, Giulio Longo, Anna C. Mavromanoli, Marta Gostiljac, Sara Medved, Umberto Volpe, S. Kukurt, Nuria Laherran-Cantera, Steve Sammut Alessi, Nedim Huskić, Laura Orsolini, Onochie Emeka, Peter Bauer, Martijn Godschalk
article en

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Suicide prevention is a core competence in psychiatric practice, limited data are available on suicide-related knowledge among European psychiatric trainees and early career psychiatrists (ECPs). The study aimed to examine variation in knowledge and perceived suicide-related competence. METHODS: An online survey was conducted in a multicountry convenience sample of psychiatric trainees and ECPs across Europe from May 2024 to October 2025. Participants completed a questionnaire on exposure to patient suicide (PS) and related reactions/support, the Suicide Knowledge and Skills Questionnaire, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. RESULTS: A total of 259 psychiatric trainees and ECPs from 36 countries completed the survey. The mean percentage of correct responses in the suicide knowledge section of the SKSQ was 76.7%. Participants exposed to at least one PS showed higher knowledge scores than those not exposed. In regression models, suicide knowledge was positively associated with personal accomplishment, exposure to PS, and comfort in asking direct suicide-related questions. CONCLUSIONS: Findings reveal variability in suicide-related competence across European psychiatric training, suggesting the need to strengthen structured, skills-based suicide prevention training, regular supervision, and post-event support pathways. Such training should not rely on reactive learning after adverse clinical events, but should address both technical, emotional and ethical competencies of psychiatric practice.

International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice
University of Sarajevo (BA), Marche Polytechnic University (IT), Bursa Uludağ Üni̇versi̇tesi̇ (TR), University Medical Center Groningen (NL), University Hospital Centre Zagreb (HR), Inserm (FR), University of Zagreb (HR), Universidade do Porto (PT), American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (US), Universidad de Alcalá (ES), Université Paris Cité (FR), Mental Health Services (DK), Hospital de São João (PT), Bezmiâlem Vakıf Üniversitesi (TR), EES Research (United Kingdom) (GB), FrontLine Service (US), Sorbonne Paris Cité (FR), University Hospital of Zurich (CH), Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cadiz (ES), Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (GB), University Psychiatric Hospital (SI), University of Milano-Bicocca (IT)
Openalex Percentile: Top 6%
Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
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