Introduction: Physiotherapists, as part of the multidisciplinary health team, work in the rehabilitation process as well as in health promotion, valuing life.They are supposed to offer adequate attention to their patients and may play an important role in the prevention of suicidal behaviours.Objective: a) Analyze the conceptions and knowledge of physiotherapists in Diamantina, Brazil, regarding suicidal behaviours and suicide prevention.b) Verify if, and how, individuals with suicidal behaviours are being taken care of by the same physiotherapists.Methods: For this qualitative and descriptive study, a semi-structured questionnaire, regarding the theme of interest was used.Ten physiotherapists, who work in the public as well as in the private health care sectors, were interviewed individually.The project was evaluated and approved by the University Research Ethics Committee.Results: When asked to speak about suicide the physiotherapists cited the reasons why, according to them, people commit suicide.These included biological, psychological, social and religious aspects, especially depression, despair (also momentary despair), and some situations that are frequently treated by physiotherapists, such as: stroke, fibromyalgia, amputations and spinal cord injuries.On the other hand, some value judgments, such as courage, weakness, and the wish to call attention to oneself, were also considered reasons for suicidal behaviours.Prevention was considered possible by the majority of the physiotherapists.They affirmed that referral to a psychologist and eventually to a psychiatrist were necessary, but that the family and the patient himself have important roles.Some did not known if or how such behaviours could be prevented.Some of the respondents stated that they had never taken care of individuals with suicidal behaviours, others had taken care of several such patients, including some who showed evidence of suicide attempts (injury of the wrist flexor muscles, spinal cord injury, amputation, poisoning) and there were also physiotherapists who did not know if they had ever taken care of any individual with suicidal behaviour.When dealing with suicidal patients, some of the respondents focus only on the physical rehabilitation, occasionally emphasizing that they do not get involved in the emotional problems of their patients or that they have too many individuals to care for (specially in the public health system), while other physiotherapists take the patient as a whole in consideration.They try to give emotional support and refer him to a mental health service.Conclusion: The studied group was very heterogeneous in all the analyzed aspects.Some physiotherapists cited well-established causes of suicidal behaviours and others only myths.In the same way, some are unaware whether their patients have exhibited suicidal behaviour, tending to focus more on physical rather than emotional aspects.In the same way, while for some the physical rehabilitation is the only objective, others do their best to humanize healthcare and provide referrals for mental health services.Prevention was considered possible by the majority, but many did not known how suicidal behaviours could be prevented.