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ERIC Number: EJ745171
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Oct
Pages: 13
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0037-8046
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Dealing with the Aftermath: A Qualitative Analysis of Mental Health Social Workers' Reactions after a Client Suicide
Ting, Laura; Sanders, Sara; Jacobson, Jodi M.; Power, James R.
Social Work, v51 n4 p329-341 Oct 2006
Social workers provide services to populations with mental health issues, including suicidal ideations and are thus at risk of experiencing a client suicide at some point during their career. Limited research using quantitative methods has explored the effect of client suicide on social workers, but little is known about their reactions from a qualitative standpoint--a method of study that is essential for fully understanding a social science phenomenon. This study addresses the gap in the literature by providing findings from an in-depth qualitative study of 25 mental health social workers who shared their experiences and reactions in the aftermath of a client suicide. Major themes were identified, including both professional and personal reactions of denial, anger, grief, and acceptance. Avoidance and intrusion, as well as additional themes of professional incompetence, responsibility, isolation, and justification were indicated and discussed in the conceptual framework of grief and secondary traumatic stress. The implications for practitioners, administrators, and educators are discussed.
National Association of Social Workers (NASW). 750 First Street NE Suite 700, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-227-3590; e-mail: press@naswdc.org; Web site: http://www.naswpress.org.
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A