First responders’ experiences and training needs at the scene of a suspected suicide in Ireland: A mixed methods study
11 affiliations
- 1School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- 2Child and Adolescent Mental Health Center, University Hospital-Mental Health Services CPH, Copenhagen, Denmark
- 3Copenhagen Center for Social Data Science (SODAS), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- 4School of Clinical Therapies, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- 5An Garda Síochána, Dublin, Ireland
- 6Cork City Fire Brigade, Cork, Ireland
- 7Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Kinsale, Cork, Ireland
- 8The Irish Coast Guard, Cork, Ireland
- 9Association of Clinical Pastoral Education, Dublin, Ireland
- 10Pieta, Dublin, Ireland
- 11National Ambulance Service, Cork, Ireland
Abstract
Background: First responders are categorised as those who are the first to respond to emergency calls and attend the site of an emergency. They include, but are not limited to police, emergency medical technicians, firefighters, and water safety personnel. First responders play a critical role in suicide postvention, supporting those bereaved by suicide and preventing adverse outcomes. However, many responders feel uncertain about how to effectively support those bereaved by suicide and often lack formal postvention training. This study aimed to explore and understand the experiences and training needs of first responders when attending the scene of a suspected suicide. Methods: A mixed-method approach was adopted. A national quantitative survey with first responders was conducted. The impact of previous suicide-related training on suicide literacy, attitudes, and postvention knowledge was analysed using multivariate ANOVA, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Qualitative data were collected through focus groups and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: A total of 1587 first responders completed surveys. Participants demonstrated positive and non-stigmatising attitudes towards suicide prevention and suicidal individuals, though lower scores were achieved for suicide literacy, postvention knowledge, organisation support, and preparedness. Previous suicide-related training was significantly associated with higher literacy, attitudes, and postvention knowledge, although effect-sizes were small. Qualitative findings from 10 focus groups revealed substantial gaps in training and confidence when responding to suspected suicides. Participants also described the considerable emotional toll of attending the scene and emphasised the need for support in the aftermath. Conclusion: Attending the scene of a suspected suicide has an impact on first responders. Limited suicide prevention and postvention training creates challenges, particularly in communicating with the bereaved. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive suicide prevention and postvention training and the allocation of adequate support.
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BibTeX
@article{goodwin2026first,
title = {{First responders’ experiences and training needs at the scene of a suspected suicide in Ireland: A mixed methods study}},
author = {John Goodwin and Saoirse Duggan and Katerina Drakos and Patrick Cotter and Ryan Biskupovic-Goulding and Sean Kelleher and Maria O’Malley and Nuala Walshe and Brendan Noonan and Rachel Flynn and Emma Gleeson and Andrea Kelly and Lisa Culloty and Nell Fingleton and Omar Fitzell and John Cudmore and Owen Hackett and Victor Shine and Bruce Pierce and Carmel Crowe and Ger O’Dea and Aine O’Donovan},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0360382},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0360382},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - First responders’ experiences and training needs at the scene of a suspected suicide in Ireland: A mixed methods study
AU - John Goodwin
AU - Saoirse Duggan
AU - Katerina Drakos
AU - Patrick Cotter
AU - Ryan Biskupovic-Goulding
AU - Sean Kelleher
AU - Maria O’Malley
AU - Nuala Walshe
AU - Brendan Noonan
AU - Rachel Flynn
AU - Emma Gleeson
AU - Andrea Kelly
AU - Lisa Culloty
AU - Nell Fingleton
AU - Omar Fitzell
AU - John Cudmore
AU - Owen Hackett
AU - Victor Shine
AU - Bruce Pierce
AU - Carmel Crowe
AU - Ger O’Dea
AU - Aine O’Donovan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/13
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0360382
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0360382
AB - Background: First responders are categorised as those who are the first to respond to emergency calls and attend the site of an emergency. They include, but are not limited to police, emergency medical technicians, firefighters, and water safety personnel. First responders play a critical role in suicide postvention, supporting those bereaved by suicide and preventing adverse outcomes. However, many responders feel uncertain about how to effectively support those bereaved by suicide and often lack formal postvention training. This study aimed to explore and understand the experiences and training needs of first responders when attending the scene of a suspected suicide. Methods: A mixed-method approach was adopted. A national quantitative survey with first responders was conducted. The impact of previous suicide-related training on suicide literacy, attitudes, and postvention knowledge was analysed using multivariate ANOVA, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Qualitative data were collected through focus groups and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: A total of 1587 first responders completed surveys. Participants demonstrated positive and non-stigmatising attitudes towards suicide prevention and suicidal individuals, though lower scores were achieved for suicide literacy, postvention knowledge, organisation support, and preparedness. Previous suicide-related training was significantly associated with higher literacy, attitudes, and postvention knowledge, although effect-sizes were small. Qualitative findings from 10 focus groups revealed substantial gaps in training and confidence when responding to suspected suicides. Participants also described the considerable emotional toll of attending the scene and emphasised the need for support in the aftermath. Conclusion: Attending the scene of a suspected suicide has an impact on first responders. Limited suicide prevention and postvention training creates challenges, particularly in communicating with the bereaved. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive suicide prevention and postvention training and the allocation of adequate support.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -