How suicide is addressed in medical education: analysis from the students’ perspective

Abstract: Introduction: Brazil has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, however there remains a stigma related to this issue and this is reflected in a lack of its critical questioning in medical training. Objective: To understand the perceptions and attitudes of medical students about issues related to suicide and to identify how the issue is included in undergraduate training. Method: A descriptive, exploratory, and cross-sectional study, using quantitative methodology. The study commenced following approval by the Research Ethics Committee and involved the participation of 188 medical students at a public university in Pará. The survey consisted of a semi-structured questionnaire presented to the participants in person after they had signed the Informed Consent Form (ICF). Result: Most of the participants attributed importance to suicide as a topic to be studied, but the researchers noted that there is little content related to the theme throughout medical education, seeing as most the participants did not know of any intervention manual or protocol for suicide situations. Furthermore, the majority of the students reported difficulties in relation to compulsory reporting. Conclusion: Despite themes related to mental health being included in academic training, the matter of suicide still needs to be tackled more intensely in medical education. This would represent an important step towards achieving more effective and qualified medical interventions, especially due to the heightened relevance of this issue in recent times.

摘要：
研究背景：巴西是全球自杀率最高的国家之一，但自杀议题仍存在普遍的污名化现象，这一现状也反映在医学培训中对该议题缺乏批判性探讨的情况。
研究目的：探析医学生对自杀相关议题的认知与态度，并明确自杀议题在本科医学教育中的融入情况。
研究方法：本研究为描述性、探索性横断面研究，采用定量研究方法。研究经帕拉州某公立大学研究伦理委员会批准后启动，共纳入188名医学生参与。调研采用半结构化问卷，在参与者签署知情同意书（Informed Consent Form，ICF）后现场发放并完成填写。
研究结果：绝大多数参与者认可自杀作为研究主题的重要价值，但研究人员发现，医学教育全程中涉及该主题的教学内容极少——多数参与者表示并不了解针对自杀情境的干预手册或操作规范。此外，大部分学生提及在自杀相关事件的强制报告环节存在困难。
研究结论：尽管心理健康相关主题已纳入医学专业培养体系，但自杀议题仍需在医学教育中得到更深入的重视与推进。这将是实现更高效、优质医疗干预的重要一环，鉴于近年来该议题的重要性日益凸显。