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Workforce & wellbeing
First responders at suicide scenes: training gaps
First responders' experiences and training needs at the scene of a suspected suicide in Ireland: A mixed methods study
PloS One · 2026-10-13 · Added 15 October 2026
Mixed-methods study of 1,587 Irish first responders found positive attitudes towards suicide prevention but lower suicide literacy, postvention knowledge and preparedness, with prior training only weakly improving scores and focus groups describing a heavy emotional toll.
- Study type
- Other
- Design
- Mixed-methods national survey plus focus groups
- Participants
- 1,587 survey respondents; 10 focus groups
- Main finding
- Lower scores for suicide literacy, postvention knowledge, organisational support and preparedness; prior suicide-related training associated with higher scores but small effect sizes
- Caveat
- Self-selected survey respondents from a single country's responder workforce
- Bottom line
- Context only
Why it matters in Australia (Medium relevance). The Irish responder mix and training structures differ, but the occupational experience of attending suspected suicides is directly relatable for Australian crews.
Learning goal
Strengthen my preparedness and postvention knowledge when responding to scenes of suspected suicide.
More
- Topic: Workforce & wellbeing
- Daily scan: 15 October 2026
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