Examining the Perceptions and Attitudes of Nova Scotia’s Healthcare Workers Toward Suicidal Youth and Their Families

Crisis. 2025 Apr 29. doi: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000998. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Background: Youth suicidality presents challenges for healthcare workers, particularly in Nova Scotia, Canada, where rates exceed national averages. Professional confidence, comfort, and anxiety in managing suicidal youth may be associated with training and education. Aims: This study examined associations between healthcare workers’ educational backgrounds, their mental health training, and their perceptions, attitudes, and emotional responses when working with suicidal youth. Method: A cross-sectional survey of 123 healthcare workers in Nova Scotia assessed demographics, training, and clinical responses. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlations, t-tests, and regression analyses (adjusting for experience) examined associations between training, confidence, comfort, and anxiety. Results: Participants reported moderate confidence (M = 3.7, SD = 0.9) and comfort (M = 3.7, SD = 0.9), with higher anxiety (M = 3.0, SD = 1.0), particularly in family-related contexts (M = 3.5, SD = 1.1). General training was associated with greater confidence and comfort but not significantly with anxiety. Specialized training (e.g., mental health degrees) was associated with lower anxiety and reduced avoidance of suicidal youth and families. Limitations: The cross-sectional design, self-report measures, and purposive sampling limit causal inference and generalizability. Conclusion: Findings suggest training type relates to professional responses, highlighting the need for further research on tailored educational interventions.