Losing a client to suicide can be very challenging for mental health professionals, personally and professionally. Gutin (2019) discussed how professionals struggle with guilt, confusion, and profound grief. Another factor they are concerned with is how their colleagues will perceive and possibly judge them.

When I worked at the hospital, one of my colleagues lost a client to suicide. We knew him well, and all liked and deeply cared about him. Most of the clients went through the program many times. My colleague did everything right. She was caring, supportive, and always available for him. When he did not attend the program Monday or respond to phone calls, she sent the police for a welfare check. However, another colleague who had previously worked with him never forgave her and blamed his death on her. I saw how that affected her, despite our support and reassurance that we would have done the same and it would have happened to us.

What kind of reaction could you have if a colleague of yours lost a patient?

Gutin, N. J. (2019). Losing a patient to suicide: What we know: Suicide loss can impact clinicians' professional identities, relationships with colleagues, and clinical work.Current Psychiatry,18(10), 15.