Attention to the demands of people with suicidal behavior in the RAPS of a city in the center-south of Ceará: knowledge and practices of health professionals

Abstract

People with suicidal behavior constitute a significant percentage of users treated in health services. This study aims to describe the knowledge and practices of health professionals in caring for the demands of people with suicidal behavior in the Psychosocial Care Network of a small municipality in Ceará. This is qualitative research with a single case study design. Systematic observation was carried out in the services and semi-structured interviews were carried out with nineteen health professionals and four managers. To analyze the data, the content analysis technique was used in the thematic modality. The results revealed conceptions of suicide as resulting from multifactorial causes, with emphasis on mental disorders, but also myths such as moral weakness. Little relevance was given to psychosocial aspects, followed by a lack of knowledge of risk factors, expressing difficulties in identifying suicidal ideation. The predominant care practices were referrals to the Psychosocial Care Center, medical care with medication prescriptions. These results suggest a weakness in the training of health professionals to provide care from a psychosocial perspective for people with suicidal behavior. The study reinforces the need for ongoing education for health professionals in the city’s Psychosocial Care Network.