Résumé :
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This chapter addresses the personal and professional impact of a client suicide on health and mental health professionals (the phrase client suicide refers to client and patient suicide). It is based on a review of the literature, and on the research and clinical experience of the authors. On a personal level, professionals can experience emotional turmoil or disruption, stress reactions ranging from acute stress to posttraumatic stress disorder, or grief and bereavement. They can also doubt their professional judgment, their competence and skills in assessing and supporting suicidal people, and fear legal consequences. Client suicide is also likely to cause changes in their professional practices such as increased awareness of suicidality issues and more cautious practices. The severity of the reactions following a client suicide depends on a variety of factors, related to the professional, the client, their relationship, and the context of the suicide, along with the support sought and received. Support and training for professionals are protective factors, which should be provided on a regular basis. Recommendations for dealing with the event of a client suicide both at the institutional and individual level are suggested. [Résumé d'auteur]
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