Improving suicidal ideation assessment and prevention in healthcare workers.

This letter discusses a recent study on the prevalence of suicidal ideation (SI) and its risk factors among Chinese doctors and nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. It acknowledges the study’s contributions but suggests improvements, including using validated multi-item scales like the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale for assessing SI, incorporating burnout and its interactions with other factors such as anxiety and PTSD, and considering role-specific stressors for doctors and nurses. The letter also recommends further analysis of healthcare workers’ access to mental health resources during the pandemic to better inform interventions. These suggestions aim to enhance the understanding and prevention of SI among healthcare professionals.