Introduction: Occupational therapists play an important role in treating individuals with
suicidal behavior. Through a review of the literature, we wanted to present what is known
about the role of occupational therapists in treating individuals with identified suicidal
tendencies and to determine the competencies, experience, and knowledge of occupational
therapists in this field. Methods: A literature review was conducted. The search was carried
out in the following databases: Cinahl, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, using
keywords in English. Results: Based on the inclusion criteria, eight articles were included in
the analysis. Five themes were identified: lack of self-confidence, need for additional
education, competences in working with people with suicidal behaviors, special educational
programs aimed the dealing with people with suicidal behaviors and knowledge acquired
during the study process. Discussion: The competencies of occupational therapists in this
field include recognizing warning signs, assessing risk, and intervening appropriately, as well
as engaging individuals in meaningful occupations. Conclusion: For occupational therapists
to play a more effective role in this area, a systematic approach to education and guidelines
for acquiring specific competencies need to be developed, and the education system needs to
be improved.
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