Suicide is currently one of the biggest public health problems, it is the third cause of death in the age group between 15 and 29 years (16.36% of young people who died in 2013). The ‘Werther effect’ refers to the mimetic behavior of the suicidal act, thus making reference to the controversial novel “The Sorrows of Young Werther” by Goethe, in 1774. The population most susceptible to this influence is the most vulnerable and ambivalent, such as they can be adolescents and young people, people with personality disorders and drug use. Durkheim considered that imitation was not due to the contagion effect of making suicides public, but to the social conditions of some places, which were what caused people to commit suicide.

The objective of the case is to expose the vulnerability to the imitation of suicidal behaviors of young people suffering from personality disorder and drug use.

We present the case of 4 young people between 18 and 21 years old (3 women and 1 man) from the same group of friends who, after the death by suicide of a 20-year-old boy, in the following 2 months, carried out suicidal behavior by taking medication they found at home and consumption of different drugs.

The two 21-year-old patients planned for the first month of the anniversary of the friend’s death, the intake of drugs and medication and leave a farewell note explaining the reasons. The patients required hospitalization in an acute mental health unit, one patient developed myocarditis secondary to toxins, during hospitalization they undergo psychotherapeutic treatment and are evaluated, leading to the diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder and Multiple Drug Use Disorder. The 20-year-old patient took medication on the anniversary month but did not require hospitalization. He underwent outpatient follow-up at a day hospital. During the therapeutic process, he was diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder. The 18-year-old patient required hospitalization for structured self-injurious ideation with a risk of acting out at 2 months, psychotherapeutic treatment was started and she was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and harmful drug use. The 4 young people continue outpatient follow-up by both the community mental health unit and the addiction treatment center.

We observe in the series of cases exposed, the vulnerability of young people suffering from personality disorders and drug use to suicidal behavior, so risk factors for their prevention must be identified and continue working on adequate information of suicidal acts, whether completed or not, to avoid imitation phenomena. In all cases, suicide should not be seen as a desirable alternative and strategies to cope with difficulties and emotional management should be offered and promoted, especially in this young population that is still developing and is more vulnerable.

None Declared

Repeated self-harm represents the single strongest risk factor for suicide. Worldwide, suicide is the second leading cause of death in young people aged 15-29 year, and the leading cause of death in many Asian countries.

This qualitative study was nested in a multi-center effectiveness trial of a Youth Culturally-adapted Manual Assisted Problem-solving intervention (Y-CMAP) for prevention of self-harm in Pakistan and aimed to explore young people’s perspective on the intervention.

One-to-one in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 participants from 5 cities across Pakistan, using a semi-structured topic guide to explore their views about self-harm, Y-CMAP intervention content, perceived effectiveness and challenges. Interviews were conducted in Urdu language, digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim and translated into English. Thematic analysis was conducted by the trained qualitative researchers.

Interpersonal conflicts including relationship difficulties, financial problems, and lack of social support were highlighted as precipitating factors of self-harm. Participants reported that Y-CMAP intervention is structured and easy to understand. They acknowledged the role of distraction techniques, cost-benefit analysis, discussion on thinking pattern, problem-solving and anger management in improving their mental health and wellbeing and reduce self-harm. Participants also shared their initial fears regarding the intervention, such as fear of disclosure of information to media. School and job timings were described as potential challenges for participation in the intervention.

Exploring the perspectives of young people about culturally-appropriate intervention is imperative in their journey towards preventing suicide, which is a preventable cause of premature death. Findings are particularly relevant for Pakistan, one of the youngest nations in the world with limited resources for suicide prevention.

None Declared

Intentional self-harm in adolescents and young people included both suicidal behaviors and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a serious issue in mental health systems. However, the majority of studies on self-harm in adolescents and young people focused on quantitative methodology which might has limitations to explain this complex phenomenon of intentional self-harm.

This study aimed to describe the subjective experiences of adolescents and young people who presented with intentional self-harm in order to provide better understanding of this behavioral phenomenon.

This is an exploratory qualitative study used phenomenological processes and thematic analysis.

Twenty subjects aged 13-29 years were included in this study. The results revealed 6 themes regarding predisposing child - rearing environments and 9 themes regarding factors related to cessation of intentional self-harm.

- 6 themes regarding predisposing child - rearing environments

1. 1. Lack of emotional responsiveness/emotional neglect

2. 2. Negativity, criticism and harsh punishment

3. 3. High academic expectations

4. 4. Comparison with siblings

5. 5. Superficial responsiveness

6. 6. Enmeshment and over involvement

- 9 themes regarding factors related to cessation of intentional self-harm

1. 1. Negative perception to self-harm and desire to stop

2. 2. Increase of adaptive coping

3. 3. Finding life purposes

4. 4. Improvement of psychiatric symptoms

5. 5. Supportive relationships and verbalization

6. 6. Treatments / interventions

7. 7. Unwanted consequences of self–harm

8. 8. Situations related to positive feelings

9. 9. Behavioral control

Moreover, this study demonstrated the important functions of self-harm as an intrapersonal strategy for emotional regulation.

This study underscored the importance to view self-harm as a complex phenomenon and it is essential to understand the developmental pathways as well as the pathways to cessation of these complex behaviors. Moreover, various internal and external factors related to cessation of intentional self-harm were demonstrated and verbalization in safe and supportive atmosphere tended to be an important process to promote the cessation or decrease of intentional self-harm.

None Declared

Suicide is a major health problem, mostly related to mental health disorders. However psychological autopsies have revealed the presence of unexpected suicide factors such as dietary patterns particularly folate intake. Which is a naturally occurring form of B9 essential for neurogenesis, nucleotide synthesis and methylation of homocysteine.

The aim of our study is to identify the link between folate intake and suicidality.

Our literature review was based on the PubMed interface and adapted for 2 databases: Science Direct and Google Scholar using the following combination ( suicide [MeSH terms]) AND (folate [MeSH terms]) AND (prevention [MeSH terms]).

Stress-induced neuronal dysfunctions interact with genetic and environmental factors, including diet, to precipitate mental health disorders in vulnerable or predisposed individuals especially mood disorders.

In one hand, studies showed delayed onset of clinical improvement even treatment resistance in depressive patients treated with fluoxetine associated with low folate levels.

In the other hand Folate depletion has been linked to serotoninergic metabolism disturb.

Moreover, co-administration of methylfolate, a highly absorbable form of folic acid, has been found to augment the effects of SSRIs .A duration-response analysis (1-mg dosage) revealed a 5% decrease in suicidal events per month of additional treatment.

Accumulating data have shown that these nutrients can enhance neurocognitive function, and may have therapeutic benefits for depression and suicidal behaviors . But the pathological mechanism remains unclear that’s why further studies are needed for a better comprehension and efficiency.

None Declared

The cultural meaning of suicide has been gaining attention in mainstream psychiatry literature, as an attempt to comprehend the dynamic relationship between culture and suicidality. Moreover, an understanding of the sociocultural and contextual factors in the aetiology of suicidal behaviour is important to develop culturally appropriate suicide prevention and intervention strategies.

Through the lenses of critical cultural suicidology, we aim to reflect on the relationship between suicide and sociocultural aspects, emphasizing the importance of context, cultural meanings, and the role of culture in suicide research and prevention strategies.

We conducted a qualitative review on the topic using PubMed database. Search terms used: “suicidal behaviour”; “suicidal ideation”; “suicide”; “culture”; “cultural”.

Studies revealed that culture might be significant to understand suicidal behaviour. Therefore, suicidologists have often referred to a cultural meaning of suicide. Several studies argue that qualitative studies that focus on the meanings of suicidal behaviour in different cultural contexts are more relevant for suicide prevention than much of the quantitative risk factor research that is currently being conducted. Scholars conceptualize culture as either a protective factor or a risk factor that shapes an individual’s likelihood of engaging in a suicidal act. To locate culture’s influence on suicidal behaviour is essential to begin with an examination of social interaction. The meanings of suicide from a group of people living in a cultural community might vary along subcultural groups and time. Thus, the meaning of suicide is dynamic rather than static. Such a view acknowledges culture as both occurring outside the person, as well as within the person and between persons. It provides a view of a dynamic relationship between the individual and his or her contextual circumstances in which the individual is not just a passive recipient of cultural influences but also an active meaning-making agent who interacts meaningfully with the environment.

Although the medical view of suicidality is a dominant perspective in suicidology, understanding cultural dynamics in suicidality and the conceptualization of suicide as a culturally guided act, is crucial to better understand suicidal behaviours. Further studies are needed in order to understand this complex and dynamic relationship.

None Declared

Suicide is a global epidemic, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating that there are roughly 800,000 suicides annually, accounting for 1.4% of all deaths, and making suicide the 18th leading cause of death in 2016 (World Health Organization. There is a pressing need to better understand factors that contribute to suicide risk. One important domain for suicide prevention is inpatient psychiatric treatment, as many patients are admitted precisely in order to reduce their risk of suicide. Although inpatient psychiatric treatment is often used for suicide risk prevention the risk of suicide after inpatient treatment remains high. Patients who have been recently discharged have a greater risk of suicide than non-hospitalised mentally ill people.

Review suicidal risk after hospitalisations and the factors that may have an influence on it.

Presentation of a patient’s case and review of existing literature, in regards to the rate of suicide after a patient is released from psychiatric hospitalisation and the factors that surround it.

The patient in question is admitted into a psychiatric ward with a diagnosis of severe psychotic depression, after a suicide attempt trying to dissect his arms’ blood vessels. Health professionals at the hospital attend to his needs and the patient sees improvement. Not long after his release, there is a second hospital admission, which doesn’t have the same result and after his release he successfully ends his life. What comes to mind with these sorts of patients is: what kind of help would they have needed? Why hospital admission was not enough? And which factors and profile of patient is more prone to develop suicide behaviour?

Admissions at psychiatric wards always have to be thought of as a beneficial resource for patients. There are some cases in which patients do not get the help they need by being hospitalised, increasing the risk of comitting suicide. A lot more studies will have to be carried out to understand what variables play a part in this. Meanwhile an improvement in outpatient care to support patients after hospital release is crucial.

None Declared

Irish Travellers are an indigenous minority in Ireland with distinct history and culture, of which nomadism was traditionally an important feature. Travellers experience disadvantages in education, employment, housing and health. Suicide is a big problem in the Traveller community, their suicide rate is 11%: 6 to 7 times higher than the general population. 59.4% of Traveller men and 62.7% of Traveller women reported that their mental health has not been good for one or more days in the last 30. Despite the high rates of suicide, there is a paucity of clinical research into mental health of Travellers.

Aim was to improve the scientific knowledge of the mental health of Irish Travellers by addressing the gap in the scientific literature.

The objective was to conduct a qualitative assessment of Travellers who have experienced self-harm and suicidal thoughts themselves, or who have a family member who has experienced same, by exploring their personal experience of distress, adversity and illness.

We conducted semi-structured interviews exploring the following topics: self-harm, bereavement by suicide, experience of mental illness and of seeking treatment, stigma, discrimination and perceptions of research participation. Participants were recruited from community Traveller organisations in order to improve participation. Data were analysed using Nvivo software for thematic analysis.

Our participants aged from 22-62. 67% reported a personal history of self-harm, 83% had a psychiatric diagnosis. None were actively engaged with a Psychiatric team.

The main themes from the data were discrimination, identity issues, cultural understanding in healthcare settings, mental health and wider societal issues. Our findings showed that many Travellers who suffer from mental health problems and suicidal thoughts, find it hard to discuss problems openly within their families and communities due to stigma and shame, despite the high incidence of suicide. Many reported experiencing idenity crises, and a sense of not belonging in society, particularly since the introduction of legislation preventing them from aspects of their traditional lifestyles. Other common topics were literacy issues, womens and LGBTQplus rights.

Travellers are a marginalised group in our society with high rates of socioeconomic deprivation, which we know is a factor in mental illness and thoughts of self-harm or suicide. There is a need for improved education for mental healthcare workers into the culture of Travellers and for increased sensitivity and awareness of how to engage with patients with literacy issues. Stigma remains an issue within the Travelling community and more work needs to be done to improve engagement between Travellers and mental health services in order to prevent acute mental health crises and/or suicidal behaviour. Travellers remain a difficult to reach and under-researched group in our society.

None Declared

The prevalence of mental illness has increased worldwide over the past few years. At the same time, and even in the sense, there is also an increase in suicide rates with special incidence in certain risk groups, among which health professionals stand out.

In this particular group, physicians seem to represent a class particularly vulnerable by the stress and demand associated with it, but also by access and knowledge about potentially lethal means.

For this very part, they have a higher risk of suicide than the general population.

This paper aims to better understand the phenomenon of suicide among physicians and identify which medical specialties are most vulnerable.

Bibliographic research in the Pubmed® database using the terms “suicide and physicians”.

The data obtained from the scientific literature consulted indicate that physicians have a higher risk of suicide than the general population, with greater emphasis on females who have higher rates compared to males.

Work factors that translate into higher levels of demand and stress combined with easy access and knowledge about the use of potentially lethal means seem to contribute very significantly to this phenomenon. Perfectionist personality traits with a high sense of responsibility and duty are also important characteristics that place these professionals in a position of greater vulnerability.

With regard to the different medical specialties, anesthesiology, psychiatry and general and family medicine are the ones with higher suicide rates among the medical class.

The risk of suicide, although admittedly high in the medical class, is not homogeneous among different countries, being naturally influenced by the satisfaction/gratification obtained in the performance of their profession. In this sense, countries such as Switzerland and Canada show higher levels of professional satisfaction. In the opposite direction, dissatisfaction in the exercise of clinical activity is associated with higher levels of fatigue and burnout.

Medical women, due to the need to combine the responsibility of family tasks with professional responsibility, are at greater risk.

In this sense, it is necessary to develop strategies that are more appropriate for the prevention and early identification of suicide risk situations that can be experienced not only by improving working conditions but also by better addressing professionals suffering from mental disorders.

None Declared

Current suicidology literature emphasizes the need for suicide prevention and awareness training that include specific approaches tailored for specific professional groups. However, it is necessary that the scales used in the assessment of trainings contain the needs of the evaluated groups on risk management. Cancer patients are one of the groups with a high risk of suicide. Studies show oncology nurses have difficulties in recognising and managing the risk of suicide in oncology patients(Granek et al. Psycho-Oncology 2018; 27(1) 148–154, Öztürk and Hiçdurmaz. Journal of Clinical Nursing 2022; 1-15). Also, these studies underline the need to create training programmes peculiar to oncology that increase oncology nurses’ awareness, knowledge, skills and efficacy in recognising and managing suicide risk. However, no study in the current literature presents scale that can assess the effect of these trainings on efficacy of oncology nurses or other professional who work oncology in the management of suicide risk. Valid and reliable scale is required to assess oncology nurses’ efficacy in suicide risk management.

This study aim to to develop and test the psychometric properties of the Suicide Risk Management Efficacy Scale (SRMES)

The study was conducted in two stages: (1) the creation of conceptual frameworks and scale items (2) assessing the scale psychometric properties. At the end of the feedback from 10 experts (Psychiatrists and Psychiatric Nurses), the scale content validity was completed and the scale was applied oncology nurses sample. Data were collected using a Descriptive Characteristic Form and the 26-item SRMES. Data were obtained from 234 oncology nurses. Exploratory, confirmatory factor analyses and reliability analyses were performed.

Exploratory factor analyses extracted a unifactorial solution. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the unifactorial model presented highly satisfied and acceptable fit indexes (CMIN/df=1,927; CFI=.94; GFI=.844; IFI=0,941; TLI=.928; RMSEA=.063: NFI=0,884; RFI=0,86). According to the results of the principal component analysis, factor loads in the unifactorial structure are between 0.534 and 0.843. Cronbach’s alpha value of the scale was 0,96, the inter-class reliability coefficient is 0.928.

The result of exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis results were satisfactory. The SRMES is a valid and reliable scale that can be used to assess oncology nurses’ efficacy perception on suicide risk management. The SRMES can also be used to evaluate the efficacy perceptions of other health professionals on suicide risk management who perform psycho-social assessments similar to nurses in oncology.

None Declared

Youth suicide is a significant public health problem resulting in a major social and economic burden for communities and a devastating impact on families.

The present study, which is part of a continuing research on attempted suicide among adolescents conducted in Northern Greece since 1990, explored the circumstances and characteristics of adolescent suicide attempters, comparing them with a clinical sample of adolescents with no suicidal behavior.

We retrospectively studied medical records and collected clinical data, sociodemographic and family characteristics of adolescents (all diagnoses except attempted suicide) referred to the Adolescent Unit of the AHEPA General Hospital for assessment and treatment between 2008 and 2018 (N = 160) and we compared them with our sample of adolescent suicide attempters (N = 182).

Of the 342 cases reviewed, 71.6% were female and aged 12 to 19 years (M = 15.39, SD = 1.81). Chi-square analyses showed that, compared with patients with no suicidal behavior, attempters were more frequently diagnosed with personality disorder and mood disorder. No differences were found between groups for substance-use disorder, psychosis, eating disorder and somatic symptom disorder. Attempters were also living in more problematic circumstances, such as such as severe family dysfunction and/or impairment, reported significantly more conflict with parents, had more school problems and had experienced romantic disappointment (see Table 1).Table 1.Comparisons between suicide attempters and nonsuicidal comparison group on family psychosocial characteristics

These findings highlight risk factors for suicide attempts and inform the development of suicide models that improve identification of adolescents at greatest risk to making a suicide attempt.

None Declared

Suicide represents one of the most discussed mental health issues in the world today and health challenges for the future. The burden of suicide is calculated in very high numbers (800 thousand people per year) by the WHO (2014), ranking it among the other most frequent causes of death. The key criteria to determine suicidal or non-suicidal behavior is the presence of intentional self-injurious behavior, in which the individual intentionally attempts to harm himself.

Objectives: Aim of the study: was to make a presentation and evaluation of the demographic and clinical factors of suicidal self-injurious behavior in patients hospitalized

Patients’ data were obtained from the archived clinical files of the Psychiatric Emergency Department and other wards at “Xhavit Gjata” Tirana Psychiatric Hospital. The method used is a descriptive retrospective study of patients admitted during period of January-May 2019. About 75 archived clinical files were thoroughly studied and analyzed, on various demographic and clinical variables.

Albanian women remain more at risk for suicide attempts, while male suicide mortality is higher, as in the world. Higher determination and the use of more lethal methods ranked among the factors contributing to the higher mortality of men. The 29-49 age group is the most affected in our study according to suicide attempts and self-harming behavior. The most pronounced accompanying diagnoses of suicide attempts are major depressive disorders, but not leaving behind psychotic disorders. The average length of stay in the hospital is 18.4 days.

The deepening of knowledge on the etiology, on the factors influencing suicide and on the methods of treatment are only some of the issues facing public health today. Identification of self-injurious behaviors pave the way for treatment and assistance for anyone considering suicide.

None Declared

Suicide is one of the main cause of death in the world. It’s an important public health problem that is growning on new generations.

The manners used to die have always been studied from psychiatry to understand which mental illness induced victim to various ways of suicide. They are multiples and are influenced by different factors. This study includes suicides cases defined “atypical”.

The cases were examined at the Insitute of legal Medicine Institute of Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro. Methods used were autopsies, and psycological autopsies. The study of the three cases also included the first level toxicological tests..

In the first case, the victim died for cut injuries by using a kitchen knife on the lateral-cervical region of neck; the inspection revealed superficial lesions (test cuts) which, with progressive depth, reached the vascular-nervous bundle. In the second case, in a family contest of apparent welfare, the victim decided to go out home in the middle of the night, to reach an isolated place: there, when he still was in his car, he spilled on his head flammable liquid to accelerate fire effects.

In the case number 3, the victim was found at the bottom of a cliff with earplugs; maybe she was hearing voices in her mind that induced her to death. At home, police found a message on paper about her autopsy will.

The autopsy findings on the cases described are atypical. In every three cases of atypical suicide, the victim was not being treated with therapy, and all victims, probably, were very able to hide their socio-relational malaise. Forensic investigations for the study of suicides must not be limited to the study of fatal injuries. Forensic study about the modalities used to commit suicide wants to be a help to improve knowledge on certain psychiatric pathologies at high risk of suicide.

None Declared

Recent studies have indicated that grieving after suicide loss can be particularly complex and traumatic. However, studies have recognized the opportunity for personal growth among suicide-loss survivors.

This study signifies an effort to develop a comprehensive understanding of the underlying interpersonal facilitators of posttraumatic growth (PTG) among suicide-loss survivors in a longitudinal design.

Participants included 189 suicide-loss survivors (155 females), aged 21–73, who completed questionnaires of thwarted belongingness (TB), perceived burdensomeness (PB), and self-disclosure at T1. Moreover, participants were assessed on PTG levels at T1, 18 months (T2), and 42 months (T3).

The integrated mediation model indicated that both TB and PB contributed to the PTG trajectory. PB and self-disclosure contributed to PTG at T3 beyond the PTG trajectory across time. We also found self-disclosure to mediate the association of TB and PTG at T2 and T3.

These findings suggest that interpersonal factors play critical roles in contributing to PTG over time among suicide-loss survivors. Basic psychoeducational interventions designed to foster interpersonal behaviors may facilitate achieving PTG among survivors in the aftermath of suicide loss.

Y. Levi-Belz Shareolder of: no, Grant / Research support from: no, Consultant of: no, Employee of: no, Paid Instructor of: no, Speakers bureau of: no

Modern warfare in a civilian setting may expose combatants to severe moral challenges. Whereas most of these challenges are handled effectively, some potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) may have deleterious psychological effects on the combatants, such as suicide ideation (SI). Self-disclosure, which includes sharing distressing thoughts and emotions, has been recognized as a protective factor against SI in the aftermath of stressful events.

The current study is the first to examine the moderating role of self-disclosure in the relationship between PMIEs exposure and SI among combat veterans.

A sample of 190 recently discharged Israeli combat veterans completed validated self-report questionnaires in a cross-sectional design study, tapping combat exposure, PMIEs, depressive symptoms, SI, and self-disclosure.

PMIE dimensions, and self-disclosure significantly contributed to current SI. Importantly, the moderating model indicated that self-disclosure moderated the link between PMIE-Self and current SI , as PMIE-Self and current SI were more strongly associated among veterans with low levels of self-disclosure than among high self-disclosing veterans.

Self-disclosure, as a factor promoting a sense of belongingness, interpersonal bonding, and support, might reduce SI risk following PMIE exposure. Various mechanisms accounting for these associations are suggested, and clinical implications of these interactions are discussed.

Y. Levi-Belz Shareolder of: no, Grant / Research support from: no, Consultant of: no, Employee of: no, Paid Instructor of: no, Speakers bureau of: no

Psychiatry training programs vary in the degree to which they offer trainees with an opportunity to get involved in research. Exposure to research during the training period is critical, as this is usually when trainees start their own scientific research projects and gain their first experiences in academic publishing.

We present the European Journal of Psychiatric Trainees (EJPT) (ejpt.scholasticahq.com), the official journal of the European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT), including its scope, mission and vision and practical considerations.

Reflecting on the foundation and operation of the European Journal of Psychiatric Trainees.

The European Journal of Psychiatric Trainees is an Open Access, double blind peer-reviewed journal which aims to publish original and innovative research as well as clinical, theory, perspective and policy articles, and reviews in the field of psychiatric training, psychiatry and mental health. Its mission is to encourage research on psychiatric training and inspire scientific engagement by psychiatric trainees. Work conducted by psychiatric trainees and studies of training in psychiatry are prioritized. The journal is open to submissions, and while articles from psychiatric trainees are prioritized, submissions within scope from others are also encouraged. The article processing fee is very low and waivable. It is planned to publish two issues yearly.

The first article was published in July 2022, titled “Fluoxetine misuse by snorting in a teenager: a case report” and it received 218 views as of 17 October 2022, which confirms the journal’s potential for visibility.

The European Journal of Psychiatric Trainees is a non-profit initiative designed to offer psychiatric trainees a platform to publish and gain experience in publishing. Thanks to its robust double blind peer reviewing system, it has the potential to contribute to scientific excellence.

None Declared

Patients with borderline personality disorder are often a challenge to the mental health system. Psychiatrists see people with BPD as manipulative, difficult to manage, annoying, unlikely to arouse sympathy, clinicians hold negative attitude towards personality disorder.

As the next generation of doctors, medical students’ perception of patients with personality disorder (PD) is critical.

Yet a systematic review of the literature shows this has not been studied.

The study aims to identify :

1) the understanding and perception of medical students about PD

2) factors that may relate to this knowledge and perception.

A focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted with eight medical students in their sixth year at Amoud University, Somaliland.

A case vignette of a patient with typical Borderline PD symptoms was presented to stimulate discussion. Barts Explanatory Model Inventory (BEMI) was used to explore the issue.

The FGD was conducted via MS teams, recorded, transcribed, translated and thematically analysed

The Medical students showed reasonably accurate knowledge regarding Borderline PD, recognising features of unstable mood, impulsiveness, and emptiness. Of note half the participants believed religious intervention would be helpful “I believe in Islam. So,basically so to some degree it could be managed in certain religious centers”. Importantly, medical students, when asked to divest of their professional identity, and to describe their personal views associated PD with madness.

The views of PD as ‘madness’ and that religious intervention has a role have important implications for training and service development.

The importance of a culturally sensitive training to Medical students regarding PD to match local cultural and religious views, and consideration of development of health services which are sensitive to religious practice is highlighted.

We recommend including social and cultural implications in the training of medical students to better prepare them for the complexity of managing PD.

None Declared

There are differences in the training curricula of medical specialists in different countries. The opinion of the doctors in training on how they acquire competencies and carry them out is of great importance. In our case, we asked ourselves what were the perceived shortcomings in psychiatric training.

The main objective of the study is to describe the opinion of psychiatry residents in Spain on the acquisition of competencies, compliance with the training programme and quality of clinical supervision.

This is a descriptive, cross-sectional, mixed (quantitative and qualitative) study. Based on previous bibliography and the ministerial order of the official training programme, an online survey was prepared, which was disseminated telematically through the residents’ representatives of the National Commission of the Speciality of Psychiatry of the National Council of Health Sciences Specialities.

A total of 109 responses were obtained, with representation from all the Autonomous Communities of Spain. Graph I shows the opinion of the psychiatry residents as to which competencies they feel are less developed at present, with the competencies related to psychotherapy standing out in first place with great importance. In terms of compliance with the training programme, the parameter most in line with what was established was the average number of shifts, with an average of 4.26 shifts per month. However, 11.7% of residents do not take compensatory rest after on-call duty as required by law. Moreover, the rotation times established by the BOE are not complied with in 38.5% of the hospitals. With regard to the rotations that the residents feel should increase their rotation time, the child and adolescent psychiatry and dual pathology rotations stand out (graph II). Finally, with regard to the supervision process, only 22.90% of first-year residents are always supervised in person during their rotations (graph III).

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Our study reflects the belief on the part of the resident physicians that further training in psychotherapy (45.7%), psychogeriatrics (10.6%) and dual pathology (8.5%) would be necessary. The fact that only 11.7% of the participants stated that they did not take compensatory rest after on-call duty seems to us to be an improvement over what was initially expected. There are other less reassuring data, such as the fact that only 22.9% of first-year residents report having continuous supervision. We consider that the results found follow the trends observed in studies carried out in residents from other countries. We stress the need to carry out a greater number of studies with a broad population base in which to find the failures that psychiatry residents themselves perceive in their training.

None Declared

The announcement of bad news to patients is a challenging task for physicians.

The aim of our study is to evaluate the impact of a simulation experience of telling bad news to patients on Tunisian medical trainees.

A prospective and multicenter study was conducted in two different hospitals in Tunisia. The duration of the study was two weeks. Pre-prepared questionnaires evaluating the impact of a simulation experience of the announcement of a critical illness diagnosis were handed to trainees enrolled in the faculty of Medecine in Tunis.

Forty trainees were included in the study. Average age was 28,1 years old with a feminine predominance (75%). Thirteen trainees role-played the clinician announcing the bad news. The median duration of the simulated interview was eight minutes. During the moment of the diagnosis announcement, twelve trainees reported feeling stressed, 6 of them felt uncomfortable and 7 felt empathic. Five trainees were in difficulty, two felt at ease and two felt neutral. During the whole interview, all the trainees reported they felt stressed and uncomfortable. Regarding their feelings at the end of the interview, only two reported they felt relieved at the end of the interview. Three trainees felt angry with themselves. Two felt angry with the patient or his family members. Eight felt upset and four were in tears. Four reported having no feelings.

Telling bad news is a difficult moment in daily practice. Special trainings need to be implemented in the medical education program in order to prepare future doctors to this task.

None Declared

There are many stressors that lead to burn out and decrease the quality of life of health professionals as a whole and it occurs also to trainee psychiatrists.

Training programs rarely include specific interest in the personal self of students even if they begin to deal with severe human suffering.

Authors present a model of experiential group training in psychiatry that is centred on the person/trainee at the very most.

The aim is to focus on unsolved emotional needs of students to allow them to achieve the capacity of relationship with patients. It is not a mere application of empathy but a truth overcoming, for trainees, of major risks of collusion due to reflection of individual conflicts into the patients and/or due to the encounter with strong emotion during clinical training.

The model is Experiential because it is the space for personal expression and it is Strategic because it is born inside the strategic group training in psychotherapy (Battuello et al. Psichiatria e Psicoterapia 2022; 41, 2, 65-82).

The conductor of the group carries on her/his skin the experience of own training group, to be brought into the trainees’ one.

This is an original approach because the epistemology of the model came directly from the experience.

The group is led by a psychotherapist that plays an active part inside the process instead of being only a facilitator.

The main focus is to allow students to express themselves that includes various steps such as: tuning with their own experiences/emotions, freedom of expressing them to the group, active listening to the other and response to the same other even when feelings don’t resonate but instead are divergent.

This phase is related to the conductor’s participation that is totally immersed into the group bringing personal feelings, stories and emotions to create an undifferentiated space, free from hierarchical roles.

During a second period, students can access a more mature relational capacity that carries the group to a phase of individuation of the self that also engages professional issues.

Students in the group question themselves: it is the root of every health professional that has to explore and overcome personal relational issues. Only after the expressiveness phase, as authors name this part of the training, an individuation phase is truly possible that leads to the definition of the professional.

The training group is necessary for students to explore the wider range of emotions, expressing personal ones, accepting others’, experiencing the tolerance to their frustration, and emerging as professional, that is, in few words, professional of the relationship, the key and the basement of the psychiatrist.

The training in mental health should include, at first, the taking care of the person/student as it is proposed by authors inside the group model.

None Declared

Negative thoughts towards mental illness are a global problem for health care professionals. Mainly it leads to late help seeking which aggravates the prognosis of the problem, denial of this situation, refusing long term medication etc.…

We aim to identify the determinants leading to negative attitudes towards psychiatric problems among medical students.

This is a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study conducted at the Faculty of Medicine of Sfax through an anonymous questionnaire via google Forms. The degree of stigmatization was evaluated by the score « The Attribution Questionnaires AQ-27 ».

One hundred and seven students completed the questionnaires. The Sex-ratio was 0.30 (M/F). The percentage of first- and second-year students was 24.42%, third to 6th year students was 34.57% and residents was 41.01%. Students with a personal history of psychiatric disorders presented 45.8% of our population and those with a family history of mental health problems 40.2%. Medical students who studied psychiatry as a discipline and students who had internship in the psychiatry department (third to 6th year students and residents) had lower scores of the Attribution Questionnaires AQ-27 (p=0,003 and p=0,002 respectively). Sixty per cent of the students reported that spreading listening cells when needed, media coverage of mental illness and campaigns of awareness can help us reduce mental disease’s related stigma.

To conclude, in order to lower rates of stigmatization of mentally sick people, spreading awareness among medical students can be an important tool in order to understand this situation and to provide a better health care.

None Declared