Psychologists’ perspectives on the process of collaboration using the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS): an interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Introduction: Whilst evidence grows for the effectiveness of suicide-specific interventions such as the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicide (CAMS), much less is known about the clinicians’ experience of the collaborative process. This study aimed to give voice to the lived experience of psychologists using the CAMS framework with suicidal clients. Method: A qualitative design was utilised involving the completion of semi-structured interviews with participants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten psychologists who currently or had previously worked in a Suicide Assessment and Treatment Service (SATS) where the CAMS approach is utilised. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis Results: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach was used and revealed a number of superordinate and subordinate themes in the interview narratives. The superordinate themes included ‘Finding Safety’, ‘Regulation of the Self’, ‘Connecting’, and ‘Systemic Challenges’. Discussion: This study highlights important elements of the collaboration process of the CAMS approach. The findings of this study are discussed in the context of previous literature. Implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed with particular emphasis on supportive avenues for clinicians working with suicidal clients.