PS13 - Learning About Suicide From Unexpected Perspectives
- August, 29 | 12:00 - 13:00
- Room MN
An indirect but extremely relevant component of suicide prevention is represented by the training of mental health professionals. The literature suggests that training may help psychiatrists, especially early career ones, feel more confident in the approach to suicidal patients. In such a complex field, theoretical and technical knowledge should be integrated by emotional and relational issues, thus allowing a more empathic relationship with patients, as well as a deeper understanding of the feelings arising in psychiatrist themselves when facing suicidal individuals. Movies may be widely used in the training of medical students and psychiatry residents. As suggested by the literature about cinematherapy, besides being a potentially enjoyable learning instrument, movies may allow the discussion of topics which otherwise would remain hidden, and stimulate emotions which have the potential to increase the individuals’ self-awareness while making them feel relatively “safe”. In this workshop, we will briefly describe the theoretical background of the use of movies for teaching and learning in the field of suicidology, and then we will work with participants on movies clips in a group setting, to reflect about relationships, empathy, communication, and their implications for our work with suicidal patients and suicide survivors.
