Psychologist wins contest

Tess Soulie.
Tess Soulie.
A clinical psychologist looking at the dynamics between clinicians and patients at risk of suicide has won the top prize at the University of Otago's Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition.

The regional competition, which challenges postgraduate students to present their thesis ideas in brief format, was held on August 3.

Third-year PhD student Tess Soulie, based on the Wellington campus in the Suicide and Mental Health Research Group, said a lot of clinicians found dealing with suicidal patients inspired ''intense and often negative'' emotions.

However, in a survey of 267 mental health practitioners, Ms Soulie found just under 15% agreed they ''liked'' dealing with the patients.

She was interested in why they enjoyed a job which most people found ''very, very challenging'', and interviewed 12 psychiatrists, psychotherapists and psychologists around New Zealand in the course of her PhD research.

''Those people I've talked to feel they are doing something deeply meaningful, and fundamentally humane,'' she said.

The therapists who did not say they ''liked'' working with patients at risk of suicide still did it, but she thought they might find the idea of enjoying it challenging.

''It doesn't mean that they don't do the job or they don't do it well.''

Ms Soulie trained as a clinical psychologist in France, and worked in French Guiana before travelling to New Zealand to study.

She was very grateful to the health professionals who participated, and said they ''shared their wisdom for their patients' sake''.

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition was an ''awesome opportunity'', she said.

Ms Soulie was preparing to travel to Brisbane for the Asia-Pacific 3MT finals in September.

The winner of the Master's category was genetics student Yasmin Nouri, for her work into hereditary stomach cancer. She will travel to the national finals at the University of Canterbury on August 23.

The ''people's choice'' PhD winner was English and linguistics student Emer Lyons.

The ''people's choice'' Master's winner was microbiology student Chris Kaldor.

elena.mcphee@odt.co.nz

Where to get help

Need to talk? 1737, free 24/7 four-digit phone and text number

Healthline: 0800 611-116

Lifeline Aotearoa: 0800 543-354

Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828-865 (0508 TAUTOKO)

Samaritans: 0800 726-666

Alcohol Drug Helpline: 0800 787-797

General mental health inquiries: 0800 443-366

The Depression Helpline: 0800 111-757

Youthline: 0800 376-633, txt 234 or talk@youthline.co.nz

What’s Up (for 5-18 year olds; 1pm-11pm): 0800 942-8787

Kidsline (aimed at children up to age 14; 4pm-6pm weekdays): 0800 54-37-54 (0800 kidsline)

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement