[Organizational wellbeing: challenge and future foundation]. / Benessere organizzativo: sfida e premessa per il future. L'esperienza dell'aziendo Ulss 18 del Veneto.

We can define organizational wellbeing as the organization's ability to promote and maintain the physical, psychological and social workers wellbeing at all levels and for every job. A poor organizational climate may cause cases of burn-out and makes more likely behaviours that constitute psychological violence and harassment. In the local Unit number 18 of the Veneto Region the joint committees to tackle bullying, which have mainly preventive and educational purposes, have been a good opportunity to take into full consideration these issues at the company level (see National Work Contract 16/02/1999, article 6, D). The company occupational physician was involved in these activities to discuss the results of an ad hoc investigation conducted in the framework of the annual program of health examinations. The aim of the investigation was to ascertain the perceived work related stress and its association with work accidents, absenteeism and turnover due to health problems. On the basis of the results of this investigation it was proposed to assess better the organizational climate and to consider possible improvements. As survey tools two questionnaires were used: The questionnaire Organisational wellbeing, by Avallone et al. The Social Reaction Inventory. Rotter 1966 (abridged). Our presentation describes the subsequent stages of our intervention also with the methodological weaknesses and the more relevant implications with regards to operational and strategic paths for prevention and health promotion.

The Opinions of GP's Patients About Suicide, Assisted Suicide, Euthanasia, and Suicide Prevention: An Italian Survey.

A survey about opinions on end-of-life issues of a population represented by 1,171 people in the waiting room of general practitioners' surgeries was conducted in a province of northern Italy. Most subjects did not consider suicide as a reasonable option even in cases of a serious and incurable disease. Moreover, subjects did not consider euthanasia as a possible option either; however, they did express an opposite attitude when considering euthanasia in a third-person perspective. People with a personal history of suicidal behavior appear to present as a different population, overall expressing more open attitudes.

Self-perceived Difficulties With Suicidal Patients in A Sample of Italian General Practitioners.

BACKGROUND: Suicidal behaviours are relatively common among primary care patients, but suicide ideation seems to be poorly detected by GPs. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the frequency of issues related to suicidal behaviour in GPs' setting and to inquire the level of difficulties perceived by physicians when dealing with suicidal patients. METHODS: A survey on 88 GPs in Rovigo (Italy) has been conducted through the use of a self-administered questionnaire inquiring about suicidal behaviour in patients, personal history and outside professional lives. RESULTS: Four out of 5 doctors have encountered at least a case of suicide in their professional career, and 3 out of 4 recorded at least a case of suicide attempt in a working year. The frequency of personal history of suicidal ideation/behaviour was 2.3%. One third of GPs have come into contact with suicides or suicide attempts outside the professional setting. Sixty one per cent of doctors admitted difficulties in exploring suicidal ideation, but tended to ascribe it to a reluctant attitude of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The study underscores GPs' need of being helped in the difficult task of recognising suicidal patients. KEYWORDS: General practitioner; Suicide ideation; Suicide; Suicide attempt.

[Heterogeneity of the Departments of Mental Health in the Veneto Region ten years after the National Plan 1994-96 for Mental Health. Which implication for clinical practice? Findings from the PICOS Project]. / Eterogeneità dei DSM veneti a dieci anni dal Progetto Obiettivo "Tutela Salute Mentale 1994-96". Quali implicazioni per la pratica clinica? Indagine sui servizi partecipanti al Progetto PICOS-Veneto.

AIMS: This study aims to present data on structural and human resources of public mental health services located in the Veneto Region, Italy, and to discuss them in the light of implementation of the first National Target Plan for Mental Health ("Progetto Obiettivo 1994-1996") ten years after its launch. METHODS: The study was conducted in the context of the PICOS (Psychosis Incident Cohort Outcome Study) Project, a large first-presentation multisite study on patients with psychotic disorders attending community mental heath services in the Veneto Region. Human and structural resources were surveyed in 26 study sites using a structured interview administered by the PICOS local referents. RESULTS: CMHCs and Day Centres were homogeneously distributed across the Region and their overall rates per resident population met the national standards; a wide variability in the distribution of Day Hospitals was found, with the overall rate per resident population very far from meeting the national standard; the overall rate for Residential Facilities beds was higher than the recommended national standard, showing however an high variability across sites. The overall rate of mental health professionals per resident population was only slightly below the national standard: this was mainly achieved thanks to non-profit organizations which supplement the public system with unspecialised professionals; however, a wide variability in the local rates per resident population was found, with the 50% of the sites showing rates far lower the national standard. Specific lack of trained professionals involved in the provision of psychosocial interventions was found in most sites. CONCLUSIONS: A marked variability in human and structural resources across community mental health services in the Veneto Region was found. Possible reasons for this heterogeneity were analysed and implications for mental health care provision were further discussed.